Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh met for the primary time since Tremendous Bowl XLVII on “Monday Night time Soccer.”
John Harbaugh’s Ravens received, 30-23, enhancing his report to 3-0 in opposition to his youthful brother.
Listed below are our 5 takeaways from Monday night time’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 lengthen the lead.
John Harbaugh’s first cube roll was the boldest, with the Ravens going through 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 area 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 method was arguably the distinction of the sport, and Baltimore should proceed pushing the envelope in the event that they wish 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 one of the best soccer of his profession and proficient pass-catchers Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers, the Ravens are near unstoppable.
On Monday night time, they rushed for 214 yards in opposition to a Chargers protection that averaged 110.5 speeding yards allowed per recreation getting 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 move to Bateman with 24 seconds left, the Ravens allowed the Chargers to drive 36 yards from their 30-yard line to arrange a profitable area 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 whole protection (362 yards allowed per recreation).
The Ravens protection has been a season-long situation. Whereas its lack of ability to forestall the Chargers from marching into scoring vary did not have an effect on the sport’s end result, it is a doubtlessly regarding signal for a staff that probably should get previous high-powered Payments and Chiefs offenses to win the convention.
Chargers want J.Ok. 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 night time with 152 carries, 726 yards (4.8 yards per try) and eight touchdowns for the Chargers.
He had six carries for 40 yards in opposition to 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 below two minutes remaining within the recreation, the Chargers had minus-six speeding 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 in opposition to the Rams on Sunday night time.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson did not have as gaudy of numbers in opposition to the Chargers, however his command of the sport reveals why he is in consideration.
Jackson, who’s in search of 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 whole touchdowns.
Payments quarterback Josh Allen is the present MVP favourite, however each Jackson and Barkley are making issues fascinating. It is going to solely get extra compelling when the Ravens host the Eagles on Sunday.
