Lamar Jackson and the Ravens keep rolling
CARSON, Calif. — Just like that, the Baltimore Ravens have gone from a midseason swoon to the brink of their first playoff trip in four years.
The resurgent Ravens continued their late push with a 22-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday behind Lamar Jackson’s first 200-yard passing game and a stingy defense that held one of the NFL’s top offenses under 200 yards for the first time since 2014.
Baltimore, which has won five of its past six with Jackson as the starter, dominated for most of the night to remain in possession of the last AFC wild card with one game remaining in the regular season. And the Ravens (9-6) would move into first place in the AFC North if Pittsburgh loses at New Orleans on Sunday.
“I’m proud of our guys. So many of them stepped up and made plays,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Our guys were winning the 1-on-1 battles and our coverage was real good.”
Baltimore got a win against a Los Angeles squad that had already clinched a playoff spot with wins in 10 of its last 11 games. The Chargers’ loss, which drops them to 11-4, deals a big blow to their hopes of winning the AFC West. Kansas City can wrap up the division title and a first-round playoff bye with a win at Seattle on Sunday night.
“We couldn’t get them off the field on defense. And we couldn’t stay on the field on offense,” coach Anthony Lynn said. “We got outplayed. We got outcoached. It’s just that simple.”
Jackson, the 32nd overall draft pick in April, completed 12 of 22 passes for 204 yards. He had come into the game averaging 146.2 yards in the previous five games.
“I’m used to playing on big stages and people doubting us. I try to prove them wrong,” Jackson said. “We can play with anyone. That was a great team. We can fight and everyone sees it now.”
Baltimore led 6-3 at halftime but the Chargers took the lead less than two minutes into the third quarter on Melvin Gordon’s touchdown from a yard out. The Ravens got the ball to start the second half but Chargers rookie safety Derwin James forced Kenneth Dixon’s fumble, which was recovered by Melvin Ingram at the Ravens 21 and returned 3 yards.
The Ravens quickly answered on the ensuing possession when tight end Mark Andrews split safeties Adrian Phillips and Jahleel Addae, taking Jackson’s pass in stride and racing 67 yards for a TD.
“We turned it over so it was up to us to go back down and score,” said Jackson, who also rushed for 39 yards. “It was play action. Mark got open and made a great catch.”
The Ravens’ defense, which came into the game as the top-ranked unit in the NFL, frustrated the Chargers most of the night. Philip Rivers — who went 23 of 37 for 181 yards — was sacked four times, threw two interceptions and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season.
Baltimore converted three Los Angeles turnovers into 10 points. The Ravens were up 16-10 with 2:40 remaining when Patrick Onwuaso forced Antonio Gates to fumble and Tavon Young scooped it up and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.
“I saw a couple opportunities where I could punch the ball out and that was one of them. Once I punched it I didn’t know if he was down or not,” Onwuaso said.
