John Harbaugh’s determination on the field echo the sentiments of older siblings everywhere, particularly when facing off against his younger brother, Jim. Even with the stakes high and his Baltimore Ravens positioned at their own 16-yard line during a critical fourth down in the second quarter, John was prepared to fight for every inch.
The Ravens successfully converted that fourth down, along with two more, leading them to a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. This marked John’s third victory against Jim, adding another layer to their familial rivalry. This matchup was their first face-off since the Ravens triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers—a team once coached by Jim Harbaugh—in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season.
“It’s always been about the players, and they’re the ones who win or lose games,” John Harbaugh emphasized, acknowledging the dynamic of their upbringing and competitive spirit. The players certainly delivered for Baltimore this night, with standout performances including Derrick Henry, who tallied 140 rushing yards, and quarterback Lamar Jackson, who connected on two touchdown passes. The Ravens’ defense was efficient as well, allowing touchdowns only at the beginning and end of Los Angeles’s offensive drives.
“I’m proud of our guys,” John Harbaugh noted. “After falling behind 10-0, they showed tremendous resilience and stepped up.” The pivotal moment came when the Ravens converted a crucial fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter, leading to a 40-yard touchdown connection between Jackson and Rashod Bateman, which put the Ravens ahead permanently at 14-10.
Baltimore secured two additional fourth-and-1 conversions during a lengthy 14-play touchdown drive that extended from the end of the third quarter into the fourth. Henry, who played a crucial role in those conversions, mentioned, “We just believe in our ability to convert those fourth downs, and our blocking was outstanding. We knew if we made the right play, success would follow.”
Returning to their roots, the Ravens amassed 212 rushing yards, with contributions from players beyond just Henry and Jackson. Justice Hill’s explosive 51-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 30-16 in the fourth quarter. Hill recognized the challenge of facing such a formidable runner as Henry, stating, “It can be daunting to tackle him over and over. We stuck with the run game, and it certainly benefitted us.”
However, there are areas where the Ravens need to improve; they incurred nine penalties costing 102 yards. Although the team generally maintained composure until the fourth quarter, the late-game fouls highlighted a need for improvement in discipline.
Defensively, the absence of star linebacker Roquan Smith due to a hamstring injury put more responsibility on Malik Harrison, who stepped up with 12 tackles. Harrison expressed his satisfaction: “A lot of people doubted me, so I’m pleased to show I can succeed at this level.”
Conversely, Isaiah Likely, who once appeared to be a rising star as the Ravens’ tight end, finished the game without a reception, although he did recover an onside kick that effectively sealed the victory.
In the realm of player availability, while Smith was sidelined, both defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle) and center Tyler Linderbaum (back) were able to play.
One key stat of interest is that Jackson has now thrown 22 touchdown passes and maintained a perfect interception record on Monday nights, with an impressive passer rating of 124.3.
Looking ahead, the Ravens are set for one more game before their bye week, facing an Eagles team that has won seven consecutive games. Both Saquon Barkley (1,392 rushing yards) of Philadelphia and Henry (1,325 rushing yards) are leading the league, each having crossed the 1,300-yard mark, a feat unmatched by any other player this season.