Jim Harbaugh still hasn’t beaten his older brother.
The third HarBowl between John Harbaugh and his brother Jim went to John, again. The Baltimore Ravens fell behind 10 points early but then overwhelmed the Los Angeles Chargers the rest of the way. The Ravens went on to a 30-23 win with Lamar Jackson throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.
The Harbaughs coached against each other twice when Jim was the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and John won both meetings, including Super Bowl XLVII. Monday’s result wasn’t due to John outcoaching Jim, though John had some strong decisions, including going for it on a key fourth down from his own 16-yard line. The mismatch was due more to John Harbaugh having a much better roster to work with. The Ravens have some flaws, especially on defense, but they’re still significantly ahead of the Chargers
Give Jim Harbaugh some time. He’s doing just fine in his first season back in the NFL. The Chargers are 7-4, even after the loss, and likely to get a wild-card playoff spot. And maybe sometime soon he can have another rematch against his brother, and perhaps get a win against him.
Big 4th down gamble pays off
One of the bolder coaching decisions of the NFL season paid off big for the Ravens late in the first half.
On their own 16-yard line, the Ravens acted like they were going to go for it just before the two-minute warning, trying to draw the Chargers offsides. That didn’t work, so it appeared they’d punt after the two-minute warning. But the offense came on the field, tight end Mark Andrews took a snap and sneaked it ahead for the first down. That gave the Ravens’ offense some life, and the drive ended with Rashod Bateman’s 40-yard touchdown catch. That gave the Ravens a 14-10 halftime lead after they fell behind 10-0 early in the game.
The Chargers executed a very nice 24-second drive to end the half, picking up 36 yards to set up a 52-yard field goal as the second quarter expired. The Chargers trailed 14-13 going into halftime.
The defenses kept each offense out of the end zone in the third quarter. The Ravens lead was 17-16 going into the fourth quarter. It was a well-coached game between two good teams. As expected.
Ravens pull away in 4th
The Ravens extended their lead early in the fourth quarter on a nice jumping touchdown catch in the end zone by tight end Mark Andrews.
The Chargers might have answered, but there was an egregious drop by 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston on a third-and-6. Johnston could have turned it up for a huge gain, but it went right through his hands and the Chargers punted.
It wasn’t a long Lamar Jackson or Derrick Henry run that broke it open after that. It was Justice Hill who took a third-down handoff to the outside and found a seam for a 51-yard score. The Ravens led 30-16 after that big play and it was going to be very hard for the Chargers to come back from that. An LA touchdown in the final minute made the score look closer.
The Ravens have been a machine on offense in most games this season. The win gets the Ravens to 8-4, just behind the 8-3 Steelers for first place in the AFC North. At their best, the Ravens are a Super Bowl contender with MVP candidate Lamar Jackson leading the way. The Ravens are also superbly coached. So are the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh just needs a little more time to get his team to the same position John has his.
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Ravens secure 30-23 win
This one’s over. The Chargers failed to recover the onside kick, and the Ravens take over with 43 seconds remaining. They can run out the clock on a decisive 30-23 win.
This was a nail-biter through the first half, but the Ravens imposed their will in the second. Aggression by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and execution by Baltimore’s run game resulted in three successful fourth-down conversions on three tries. The conversions ultimately resulted in two Ravens touchdowns.
John Harbaugh improves to 3-0 in games against his brother Jim. The Ravens improve to 8-4, while the Chargers drop to 7-4. Both teams remain on the right side of the AFC playoff picture.
Chargers stay alive with late touchdown
The Chargers are still in this. A pair of pass interference penalties kept a drive alive that ended with a Gus Edwards touchdown run. The score cut Baltimore’s lead to 30-23 with 46 seconds left. This one will come down to an onside kick.
It’s not over yet
The Chargers came up with a stop and forced the Ravens to punt with 3:08 left in regulation. But they need a miracle, trailing 30-16 with one timeout remaining.
Pass interference flag picked up to end Chargers drive
Officials initially flagged this play for pass interference on the Chargers’ failed third-and-18 attempt. But they picked up the flag after consultation. Was it the right no-call?
Wheels fall off for Chargers
The Ravens continue to dominate the second half. A third-and-18 deep ball by Justin Herbert hits the turf, and the Chargers are forced to punt after gaining seven yards on three plays. A second-down sack short-circuited the drive.
Baltimore’s in control with the ball and a 30-16 lead with 6:31 remaining.
Also, check out these Derrick Henry stiff-arms
Derrick Henry helped set up the Hill touchdown with some classic Derrick Henry stiff-arms.
Ravens in control, take 30-16 lead on Justice Hill run
The second half continues to be all Ravens. Baltimore opened the game up on a 51-yard touchdown run by Justice Hill. The Ravens ran motion that confused the Chargers defense, and Hill rumbled down the left sideline for the score.
The career-long run by Hill extends Baltimore’s lead to 30-16 with 7:24 remaining.
Chargers punt after Quentin Johnston drop on 3rd down
Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston had a third-and-6 catch in his hands and open field in front of him for a potential big gain. But he couldn’t hold on. Johnston dropped the pass from Justin Herbert, and the Chargers were forced to punt thanks to the critical miscue at a key juncture of the game.
Baltimore takes over possession with a 23-16 lead and 10:45 remaining.
J.K. Dobbins is out
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins has now been ruled out with a knee injury. It’s Gus Edwards as the bellcow the rest of the way for Los Angeles.
Ravens pay off 4th-down gambles with TD
The Ravens have now converted three fourth-down conversions into two touchdowns. Baltimore went for it twice on fourth-and-1 and converted each time on their latest drive and capped it off with a touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews in the back of the end zone.
A two-point conversion fails, and the Ravens extend their lead to 23-16 with 12:32 remaining in regulation. John Harbaugh’s playing aggressive against his brother, and it’s paying off.
Ravens now 3 for 3 on 4th down
Baltimore started the fourth quarter by going for it yet again on fourth-and-1 after converting twice in two previous tries, including earlier in the same drive. So why not go for it again?
Derrick Henry converts again with a 2-yard run to the Chargers’ 23-yard line.
Another 4th-down conversion by Ravens
The Ravens went for it again on fourth-and-1, this time from their own 39. There was no doubt about this one. Derrick Henry rumbled 27 yards to pick up the first down and then some.
Cameron Dicker good again from 52 yards
The Ravens and Chargers have traded field goals to start the second half. The Chargers answered Baltimore’s opening field-goal drive with a 10-play, 36-yard drive that ended with a 52-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker, his third field goal of the night and his second from 52 yards.
Baltimore leads, 17-16 with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter.
J.K. Dobbins still in locker room, questionable with knee injury
Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins has yet to join his teammates on the sideline after halftime, according to ESPN. Dobbins is officially questionable with a knee injury. Gus Edwards would take over the lead role if Dobbins can’t return.
Justin Tucker is good from 45 yards
Justin Tucker’s been uncharacteristically shaky this season with six missed field goals and one missed extra point. But he’s true from 45 yards to cap Baltimore’s first drive of the second half (10 plays, 43 yards) to extend the Ravens’ lead to 17-13.
Lamar Jackson completed passes on third-and-9 and third-and-10 to keep the field-goal drive alive.
2nd half is underway
The Ravens start the second half with the ball and a 14-13 lead.
Ravens 14, Chargers 13: Key 1st-half stats
A well-played half by both teams sends the game into halftime with the Ravens holding a 14-13 lead. Here are the key first-half stats:
Justin Herbert: 13 of 18 for 129 yards; 3 carries for 17 yards and 1 touchdown; 0 turnovers Lamar Jackson: 5 of 9 for 89 yards and 1 touchdown; 3 carries for 14 yards and 1 touchdown; 0 turnovers
J.K. Dobbins: 6 carries for 40 yards Derrick Henry: 9 carries for 66 yards
Ladd McConkey: 3 catches for 41 yards Rashod Bateman: 1 catch for 40 yards and 1 touchdown
Chargers total yards: 202 on 5.9 yards per play Ravens total yards: 176 on 7.7 yards per play
Chargers first downs: 11 Ravens first downs: 10
Total combined turnovers: 0
Chargers answer with FG before halftime
John Harbaugh’s gamble did not go unanswered. The Chargers responded to Baltimore’s stunning touchdown drive with a four-play 22-yard drive in the final 24 seconds of the first half. Cameron Dicker pays it off with a 52-yard field goal to cut Baltimore’s lead to 14-13 at halftime.
So far, the HarBowl is living up to its billing. Gutsy, aggressive play and strong execution from both teams.
Ravens gamble pays off in lead before halftime
A big gamble pays off in a big way for the Ravens. Instead of punting, Baltimore went for it and got it on fourth-and-1 from its own 16-yard line after the first-half 2-minute warning. Five plays later, Lamar Jackson hit Rashod Bateman in a tight window for a 40-yard touchdown to take a 14-10 lead for Baltimore.
John Harbaugh’s gamble pays off big time against his little brother.
Ravens go for it inside their own 20
The Ravens threw a big roll of the dice and picked up a first down on fourth-and-1 from their own 16 at the 2-minute warning. A direct snap to tight end Mark Andrews results in a 2-yard gain and a first down, and the Ravens don’t give the ball back to the Chargers.
