Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh met for the primary time since Tremendous Bowl XLVII on “Monday Evening Soccer.”
John Harbaugh’s Ravens received, 30-23, bettering his file to 3-0 towards his youthful brother.
Listed below are our 5 takeaways from Monday evening’s brotherly affair.
Aggressive John Harbaugh pays off
A number of Ravens gambles was winners for John Harbaugh. Baltimore went 3-for-3 on fourth downs on drives to take and prolong the lead.
John Harbaugh’s first cube roll was the boldest, with the Ravens dealing with a fourth-and-one from their 16-yard line down three, 10-7, on the two-minute warning within the second quarter. Baltimore scored a landing for a 14-10 lead 5 performs later.
After the 2 groups exchanged subject targets on the primary two drives of the third quarter, the Ravens transformed two fourth-downs on a 14-play, 70-yard drive to take a 23-16 lead.
The aggressive strategy was arguably the distinction of the sport, and Baltimore should proceed pushing the envelope in the event that they need to finish Kansas Metropolis’s reign atop the AFC.
Ravens offense is a juggernaut
Per the ESPN broadcast, Baltimore’s present 7.01 yards per play common could be the very best in NFL historical past.
With Jackson at an MVP stage, operating again Derrick Henry enjoying arguably the very best soccer of his profession and proficient pass-catchers Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers, the Ravens are near unstoppable.
On Monday evening, they rushed for 214 yards towards a Chargers protection that averaged 110.5 dashing yards allowed per recreation coming into Week 12.
Ravens defensive letdown
Whereas Baltimore did loads of issues proper, the protection had a regarding lapse late within the second quarter.
Following a 40-yard Jackson landing go to Bateman with 24 seconds left, the Ravens allowed the Chargers to drive 36 yards from their 30-yard line to arrange a profitable subject objective because the half expired.
By way of its first 11 video games, Baltimore ranked twenty third in scoring protection (24.6 factors allowed per recreation) and twenty fifth in complete protection (362 yards allowed per recreation).
The Ravens protection has been a season-long concern. Whereas its lack of ability to forestall the Chargers from marching into scoring vary did not have an effect on the sport’s consequence, it is a probably regarding signal for a group that doubtless should get previous high-powered Payments and Chiefs offenses to win the convention.
Chargers want J.Okay. Dobbins wholesome
The fifth-year operating again has been one of many higher tales this season. After enjoying in solely 9 video games from 2021-23, Dobbins entered Monday evening with 152 carries, 726 yards (4.8 yards per try) and eight touchdowns for the Chargers.
He had six carries for 40 yards towards the Ravens earlier than leaving the sport at halftime with a knee damage.
Los Angeles could not overcome his absence.
Earlier than quarterback Justin Herbert’s 12-yard scramble with underneath two minutes remaining within the recreation, the Chargers had minus-six dashing yards within the second half.
Los Angeles, already with one of many league’s worst skill-position teams, cannot afford to be with out its finest backfield playmaker for lengthy.
MVP race goes to be enjoyable
SoFi Stadium was the epicenter of the MVP race in Week 12. Eagles operating again Saquon Barkley legitimized his candidacy with 26 carries, 255 yards and two touchdowns towards the Rams on Sunday evening.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson did not have as gaudy of numbers towards the Chargers, however his command of the sport reveals why he is in consideration.
Jackson, who’s searching for to turn out to be the primary back-to-back MVP winner since Aaron Rodgers (2020-21), was 16-of-22 for 177 yards and three complete touchdowns.
Payments quarterback Josh Allen is the present MVP favourite, however each Jackson and Barkley are making issues fascinating. It’s going to solely get extra compelling when the Ravens host the Eagles on Sunday.
