Inglewood, California – In a thrilling encounter on Monday night, the Baltimore Ravens secured a 30-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, aided by Lamar Jackson’s two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown of his own. Derrick Henry also shone for the Ravens, accumulating 140 rushing yards, while head coach John Harbaugh celebrated his 3-0 record against his brother Jim, who coaches the Chargers. The last time the Harbaugh brothers faced off was during Super Bowl 47 in February 2023, where John’s Ravens triumphed over Jim’s San Francisco 49ers. Following the game, the brothers exchanged a warm hug and handshake at midfield, emphasizing their close bond despite the competitive nature of the game.
Justice Hill sealed the game for the Ravens with a 51-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, making it nearly impossible for the Chargers (7-4) to come back. This victory improved the Ravens’ record to 8-4 and marked their third win in the last four outings. Quarterback Justin Herbert had a tough night, completing 21 of 36 passes for 218 yards, and managed to run for a 5-yard touchdown during the opening drive of the game. However, the Chargers struggled to find the end zone afterward, going 54 minutes without scoring another touchdown.
Gus Edwards found the end zone with just 45 seconds remaining, narrowing the gap to 30-23, but Baltimore quickly recovered the onside kick. Cameron Dicker contributed with three field goals for the Chargers, but their four-game winning streak came to an end. The Chargers had to depend heavily on Herbert and their aerial attack after running back J.K. Dobbins left the game with a knee injury in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Ravens showcased a strong rushing performance, amassing 212 yards on the ground and outgaining the Chargers by a total of 389 yards to 285. Though Henry didn’t find the end zone, his 24 carries were instrumental to Baltimore’s success.
The Ravens had a rocky start, trailing 10-0 initially, but rebounded by scoring on five consecutive drives, demonstrating their resilience and offensive prowess. They converted three pivotal fourth downs during the game, including a crucial 2-yard gain by Mark Andrews on a direct snap late in the second quarter that allowed them to maintain possession and eventually score. Jackson, who is currently leading the league in total yards, completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards and rushed for 17 yards, including a 10-yard keeper that brought the Ravens within 10-7 in the second quarter.
Jackson also connected with Rashod Bateman on a deep 40-yard touchdown pass that put the Ravens ahead 14-10 just five plays after Andrews’ fourth-down conversion. The Ravens extended their lead to 23-16 following another touchdown pass to Andrews in the back of the end zone, although their 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Hill’s impressive run put the Ravens ahead by two scores midway through the final quarter, marking the third touchdown run of over 51 yards at SoFi Stadium in just a 24-hour span, following notable performances from Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley against the Rams.
In terms of injuries, the Ravens were without linebacker Roquan Smith due to a hamstring issue, while the Chargers also lost cornerback Eli Apple to a hamstring injury in the first half. Looking ahead, the Ravens will host the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, while the Chargers are set to face off against the Atlanta Falcons on the same day.
