John Harbaugh wins NFL’s battle of brothers as Ravens top Chargers
Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, Derrick Henry rushed for 140 yards, and Baltimore coach John Harbaugh improved to 3-0 against his brother as the Ravens defeated Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers 30-23 on Monday night.
It was the first game between the Harbaughs since Super Bowl XLVII in February 2013, when John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s San Francisco 49ers. Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL this year after nine seasons at Michigan, where he won a national title. The brothers shared a quick hug and handshake at midfield after the game.
Justice Hill ran for a 51-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game to bed for the Ravens (8-4), who won three of four. But Jackson said his team still needs to improve. “We finished the game the right way, but we started slowly, we have to fix that,” he said.
The Chargers had gotten off to a positive start: Justin Herbert, who completed 21 of 36 for 218 yards on the night, ran for a five-yard touchdown on a scramble up the middle on the Chargers’ opening drive. But the Chargers went 54 minutes between touchdowns. Gus Edwards put them behind 30-23 with 45 seconds left. Baltimore’s Isaiah likely recovered the ensuing onside kick. Cameron Dicker scored three field goals as the Chargers’ (7-4) winning streak was snapped.
The Chargers had to rely on Herbert and the passing game after running back JK Dobbins suffered a knee injury in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Ravens finished with 212 yards rushing and outgained the Chargers 389 yards to 285. Henry didn’t score a touchdown for the first time this season, but had a productive night with 24 carries.
The Ravens trailed 10-0 early in the second quarter, but scored on five straight drives to take control. They also converted three fourth downs, including a two-yard gain by Mark Andrews on a direct snap late in the second quarter on fourth down and one at their own 16 on what ultimately became the go-ahead shot.
“I thought we could get it, I thought Mark could get it with a quarterback sneak…that was a big turning point in the game,” John Harbaugh said of his decision to go for it on fourth down in their own territory.
Jackson, who leads the league in total yards, completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards. He also had 17 rushing yards, including a 10-yard keeper on the right sideline early in the second quarter to get the Ravens within 10-7. Five plays after Andrews’ fourth-down conversion, Jackson threw a deep ball to Rashod Bateman, who made a contested catch in the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a 14–10 lead.
Baltimore extended their lead to 23-16 when Andrews caught a six-yard pass in the back of the end zone. The Ravens’ two-point conversion attempt was off.
Hill put Baltimore ahead by two scores midway through the fourth quarter with his run from the right on third-and-3. It was the third TD run of at least 51 yards at SoFi Stadium in a 24-hour period after Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley had runs of 72 and 70 yards on his way to a 255-yard rushing night against the Rams on Sunday.