A game that started off as a defensive battle and with a series of field goals, it was appropriate that this game ended with a field goal. The Baltimore Ravens ended a three-game losing streak when kicker Justin Tucker booted a 39 yard field goal through the uprights to send the Ravens to a 29-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium. That was Tucker’s second game-winning field goal of the year since he booted a 52 yarder through the uprights to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 11.
The Ravens hadn’t won a game since October 1, which was exactly a month ago. That is a month too long in the what-have-you-done-for-me lately world of the NFL. The Ravens run their record to 2-6 overall and they have a bye next week.
As for the Chargers (2-6 overall), this is their fourth straight loss as they will take on the Chicago Bears next week at home. The Chargers actually put together a good defensive effort today. And they had the benefit of not having to put up with star receiver Steve Smith Sr., who left the game with a left foot injury late in the third quarter and didn’t return. It was later determined that he injured his right Achilles tendon which will knock him out for the rest of the 2015 season. When he was active, he annoyed the Chargers’ perimeter defense to the tune of 5 catches for 82 yards. Now, the Ravens must rely on the rest of their receiving corps to pick up the slack.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco didn’t have to be marvelous today, he just had to be solid and let his receivers and defense do a lot of the leg work. He went 25 of 37 for 319 yards, 1 touchdown pass and no picks.
On the Ravens’ first offensive drive of the game, it looked like they were headed for the end zone. But on 2nd and 9 from the SD 26, linebackers Donald Butler and Melvin Ingram (4 tackles including 1.5 sacks) combined to get into the backfield to hit Flacco high and low and then drop the quarterback for a sack. Both linebackers were credited for half-sacks or a 0.5 number in the record book for the play.
On the next play, a Jeremy Ross reception that was 13 yards short of the first down, forced the Ravens to send in Tucker. Tucker connected for a 48 yard field goal that sailed right down the middle of the uprights. With 9:54 left in the first quarter, Baltimore took a 3-0 lead.
There’s has been a lot of chatter over the past few years about Ingram’s sack totals and effective pass rushing. Getting that half-sack helped his career but it won’t fully shut up all his critics though. That half-sack and a later in the game sack that he shared with no one, gave him 3 sacks for the 2015 season in eight games. As for Butler, that was his first sack of the season of any kind, half-sack or full-sack.
The Chargers answered that field goal with one of their own, as rookie placekicker Josh Lambo came in and booted a 42 yard field goal. That three-pointer tied the score at 3-3 with 5:44 left in the first quarter.
Somebody finally scored a touchdown in the defensive battle of a first half. The Chargers’ next scoring drive was keyed by a steady dosage of running back Melvin Gordon (5 carries for 11 yards on the drive) and a quick out-pattern completion to tight end John Phillips who took Philip Rivers’ pass to the BAL 8. Those six plays by Gordon (18 carries for 54 yards for the game) and Phillips’ catch set up San Diego’s first touchdown of the first half. Rivers finished the game 28 of 37 for 310 yards and 3 touchdown passes.
On 2nd 9 from the BAL 9, Rivers took the snap and then fired into the end zone to receiver Malcom Floyd (4 catches for 92 yards and 2 scores) who leapt into the air amid super-close coverage from Ravens cornerback Ladarius Webb and secured Rivers’ pass. With 10:16 left in the second quarter, the Chargers took a 10-6 lead.
But on the Ravens’ ensuing drive, Flacco threw deep and found receiver Chris Givens (3 catches for 57 yards) along the right sideline, with Givens having to fight off physical and good coverage from Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers. Givens was tackled at the SD 32 for a 39 yard gain. That was Givens’ longest play of the year.
That play set up a marvelous Javorius Allen 19 yard reception, in which the back fought through tackles to inch his way to the SD 1 yard. Allen would have scored on the play, but a desperate arm tackle by Flowers tripped up the back at the aforementioned 1 yard line.
That play set up a 3rd and goal 4 yard Flacco touchdown pass to a wide open Crockett Gilmore. With 4:54 left in the first half the Ravens snatched the lead back at 13-10.
But the Chargers weren’t done. The Chargers went on a marathon 14-play, 80 yard drive that culminated with a touchdown catch for the ages. Rivers on 2nd and 10 from the BAL 13, took the snap and then fired to near the back of the end zone to receiver Keenan Allen (5 catches for 35 yards and 1 score), who leaped and then stretched his body backwards to catch the pass amid double coverage form Ravens defensive backs Kendrick Lewis and Jimmy Smith.
Because of all the effort Allen exerted on the play to catch the pass and the way he landed, he was hurt on the play. He did return to the game in the third quarter. Now, with nine seconds left in the first half and after a blocked extra point the score moved to 16-13 with the Chargers in the lead.
Later in the third quarter, the Chargers extended their lead when on 3rd and 10 form the SD 30, Rivers fired deep and found an open Floyd who caught the pass and then raced past Ravens defensive backs Kyle Arrington and Will Hill for a 70 yard touchdown play. With 2:54 left in the third quarter the Chargers took a 23-16 lead.
That was the longest play of Floyd’s 12-year career. And the fact that he showed that much speed and ability to get behind the Ravens defense on that 70 yard scoring play this late in his career, is a testament to his longevity as a possession and occasional deep-ball receiver.
But the Ravens gobbled the lead back when Flacco burrowed up the middle and into the end zone from 1 yard out. That scoring run by Flacco enabled the Ravens to take a 26-23 lead with 4:34 left in the game.
Lambo late in the game was asked to come in on 4th and 14 to try a 49 yard field goal, this after a left sideline incompletion to Floyd the play before. Lambo connected on the field goal attempt and tied the score at 26-26 with 2:27 left in the game.
Then with three seconds left in the game, the reliable Tucker came in to try a game-winning 39 yard field goal. Tucker made the field goal which gave his team a 29-26 win over the Chargers.
