The Ravens pulled away to beat the Chargers on Sunday Night Football. The Athletic's NFL experts and insiders break it all down.
Jeff Zrebiec, Daniel Popper and The Athletic NFL Staff
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Second straight Chargers possession ends in a fumble
The turnover bug is biting the Chargers hard right now. After a Keenan Allen fumble turned into a Ravens field goal, the Chargers' hopes of some last-minute points in the second quarter ended with an Austin Ekeler fumble.
The Chargers have just 107 yards in the first half along with the two turnovers.
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Khalil Mack has 12 sacks in 11 games
Khalil Mack has 12 sacks this season for the Chargers in 11 games after taking down Lamar Jackson late in the second quarter. This was already his first time reaching double-digits since 2018 — his first season with the Chicago Bears when he had 12 1/2. His career high is 15, which he set during his second NFL season in 2015 with the Oakland Raiders. This latest sack gives him 96 1/2 for his career.
Chargers give it right back
After getting a fourth-and-1 stop, the Chargers gave it right back to the Ravens two plays later on a fumble by WR Keenan Allen.
Los Angeles entered the night with an NFL-low eight turnovers this season.
#NotImpressed
Lamar Jackson didn't appear impressed with Zay Flowers' touchdown celebration.
Is history repeating itself?
Shades of Cowboys game offensively for Chargers here early. They can't run it. The Ravens are pinning their ears back up front and getting after Justin Herbert, even on early downs. Kellen Moore must find a way to get Baltimore's defensive front off balance.
Ravens take 7-3 lead
The Ravens get on the board for the first time tonight following a 12-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard score by Zay Flowers — the rookie's second touchdown of the season. Lamar Jackson is expected to spread the ball around more without Mark Andrews on the field. Five different players have caught passes in this first half.
Baltimore has a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
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What you missed in the first quarter on Sunday Night Football
- Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett — and not Cris Collinsworth — is handling game analyst duties for NBC tonight. Collinsworth worked NBC’s Thanksgiving night broadcast of 49ers-Seahawks and will be back in the booth next weekend for Chiefs at Packers on SNF.
- The Chargers moved the ball inside the Ravens’ 10-yard line on their opening drive, but had to settle for a field goal after OL Jamaree Salyer was flagged for a personal foul. Salyer appeared to be running to the defense of Justin Herbert who had taken a big hit on the sideline that was not deemed a late hit by officials.
- The Chargers have scored first in nine of their 11 games this season, tied for the second most in the NFL. The bad news? LA is 4-4 in games they’ve scored first this season, tied for the second-most such losses in the NFL.
- The Ravens trailed 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, the first time in 12 games this season that Baltimore has trailed entering the second quarter. The Ravens entered the night with an NFL-best plus-67 first-quarter scoring margin.
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Missed calls are hurting the Chargers
The Chargers have already twice been hurt by apparent missed calls by the officials. Along with the missed late-hit penalty on their first offensive possession, NBC rules analyst Terry McAuley said the Ravens should have been flagged for kick catch interference after their opening drive punt.
The Chargers lead 3-0, but the first missed call denied them a first-and-goal opportunity and the second led to them starting their second drive from their own 11-yard line and, after picking up one first down, they were forced to punt.
Cris Collinsworth not in booth for NBC, Jason Garrett filling in
NBC game analyst Cris Collinsworth is not working tonight’s Ravens-Chargers game after he was on the call for NBC’s Thanksgiving broadcast of 49ers-Seahawks in Seattle.
Per Sporting News, Collinsworth elected to spend the rest of the weekend with his family.
Last season, Collinsworth sat out NBC’s Thanksgiving broadcast (Patriots at Vikings) and worked that weekend’s Sunday Night Football game (Saints at 49ers).
Collinsworth is expected to be back in the booth for next week’s Sunday Night Football game between the Chiefs and Packers in Green Bay.
Chargers grab early 3-0 lead
Chargers had to settle for a field goal, but they jump ahead 3-0.
Los Angeles has scored first in nine of their 11 games this season, tied for the second most in the NFL.
The bad news? The Chargers are 4-4 in games they’ve scored first this season, tied for the second-most such losses in the NFL.
No flag after Justin Herbert appears to be hit late out of bounds
Justin Herbert was hit late on a scramble out of bounds. The Chargers offense line was not pleased. They sprinted over, led by Will Clapp. A skirmish ensued and flags fly. And they do not even call a late hit. That is an interesting call. Only called the personal foul on Jamaree Salyer. Instead of a third-and-4 from the 6-yard line — or a first down with an unnecessary roughness penalty — the Chargers are stuck with a third-and-19. Herbert was pressured on that play and had to throw it away as the Chargers settle for a Cameron Dicker field goal.
Considering how officials have been calling hits on the QB league-wide this season, I don't know how that was not a penalty. Lots of players have complained about inconsistency in how roughing the passer is officiated. Another example there.
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Ravens and Chargers both start games fast
No team has started games faster than the Ravens this season... but the Chargers aren’t far behind.
Entering tonight’s matchup, Baltimore has an NFL-best plus-67 scoring margin in the first quarter and Los Angeles is plus-34, fourth best in the NFL.
The Ravens have allowed a league-low 19 first-quarter points and the Chargers have allowed 34, tied for fourth fewest.
Baltimore has scored 86 first-quarter points, second most in the NFL. Los Angeles has scored 68, tied for fifth most.
Betting odds trends for Ravens-Chargers
For those considering placing a wager on tonight’s Ravens-Chargers game, here are some betting odds trends courtesy TruMedia:
- Los Angeles is 0-3 against the spread as an underdog in 2023. The Chargers are listed at +3 points for this contest, per BetMGM.
- The Chargers games have hit the under in total points in seven of the past eight games. The over/under for this game is currently listed at 48.5 points, per BetMGM.
- Los Angeles is 1-4 against the spread versus teams with winning records in 2023.
- Los Angeles is 7-13 against the spread as a home underdog since 2014.
Early NFL Week 12 takeaways
The NFL emerged from the Thanksgiving holiday with 11 games on the Week 12 Sunday lineup, including a key AFC South battle between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
The Jaguars emerged victorious in a thriller that truly was a game of inches: Matt Ammendola’s 58-yard field-goal attempt with 34 seconds remaining bounced off the crossbar, allowing Jacksonville to escape Houston with a 24-21 win.
Quarterbacks were also a talking point in the early afternoon action. The New England Patriots benched Mac Jones (again) in another loss, this time to the New York Giants. Kenny Pickett made his first start since the firing of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada and outdueled the Cincinnati Bengals’ Jake Browning, who was making his first career start following Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury. Desmond Ridder halted the Falcons’ three-game losing streak in his return as Atlanta’s starter, beating the New Orleans Saints 24-15.
The late-afternoon game window included the Buffalo Bills at the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs at the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns at the Denver Broncos.
The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Dan Pompei share their thoughts on the top headlines from Sunday.
GO FURTHER
NFL Week 12 takeaways: Are Bills’ playoff hopes over after OT loss to Eagles?
How can I stream Ravens-Chargers on Sunday Night Football?
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Chargers inactives: WR Jalen Guyton (groin), TE Gerald Everett (chest) will both play vs. Ravens
USA Today Sports
Chargers inactives:
- TE Nick Vannett (concussion)
- OL Zack Bailey
- DL Scott Matlock
- RB Elijah Dotson
- RB Isaiah Spiller
- S A.J. Finley
- WR Simi Fehoko
Receiver Jalen Guyton (groin) and TE Gerald Everett (chest) are officially active tonight. Guyton and Everett both missed the Chargers’ loss at the Packers last week. They will provide a sizable lift for a Chargers offense that will likely need to go toe-to-toe with the Ravens in a high-scoring game tonight. Amid rookie Quentin Johnston’s struggles, Guyton will slide in as the Chargers’ No. 2 option at receiver. At this stage, quarterback Justin Herbert trusts Guyton more than Johnston, who had a horrific drop in Green Bay. Everett suffered his injury in a violent collision with Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Week 10. Everett was blocking a run play on the goal line. Something to monitor considering the nature of Everett’s injury. It was initially listed as a back issue but changed to a chest issue after further medical evaluation. Guyton, meanwhile, injured his groin in practice ahead of the Packers game. He had made his season debut in Week 9 win over the Jets. Prior to that, Guyton had not played since Week 3 of 2021, when he tore his ACL.
The Chargers will be going with two active running backs for the fourth straight game. Feels like they are tempting fate. They have not dealt with a running back injury during this stretch of games. Tight end Hunter Kampmoyer was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday. He will be playing in his first regular season game since 2021. The Chargers have not gotten consistent run blocking from their tight ends this season. We will see if Kampmoyer can give them a lift in that area, especially given Everett’s injury.
Ravens inactives: CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) out vs. Chargers
USA Today Sports
Four of the five Ravens who were listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, a group that includes wide receivers Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr., left tackle Ronnie Stanley and tight end Charlie Kolar, are active and will play in "Sunday Night Football."
However, the one exception, Marlon Humphrey, is a big one for the Ravens as they will have to face Justin Herbert and the Chargers without their most accomplished cornerback. Humphrey will miss his second consecutive game with a calf injury.
The Ravens will likely rely heavily on veteran Ronald Darby to replace Humphrey on the outside. Rock Ya-Sin and Jalyn Armour-Davis could mix in as well.
Also inactive for the Ravens are third quarterback Josh Johnson, offensive linemen Sala Aumavae-Laulu and Sam Mustipher; and linebackers Malik Harrison (groin) and Trenton Simpson (concussion).
Keenan Allen is red hot
Chargers WR Keenan Allen entered Week 11 leading the NFL with 83 receptions this season. Allen has posted back-to-back games with at least 10 catches, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown grab, the longest active streak in the NFL.
There have only been two instances in league history that a player had three straight games with at least 10 catches, 100 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown and Allen has one of them (Weeks 11-13 of 2017).
The Saints’ Michael Thomas had the other (Weeks 14-16 of 2019).
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