It was not an aesthetically pleasing contest Sunday night, but all that matters is the Baltimore Ravens came away with a 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ravens’ Defense Tightens Up
While the Chargers would begin the game with a field goal on their opening drive, Baltimore’s defense would keep them in check over their next seven possessions. The Ravens would force three punts, recover three fumbles, and intercept a Hail Mary pass on the final play before halftime as they asserted their dominance over Los Angeles. This proved to be crucial for Baltimore, with their offense not being able to score in bunches.
Los Angeles would score a touchdown in the 4th quarter, cutting Baltimore’s lead to just three points. The Ravens would force the Chargers to turn the ball over on downs on their next two possessions, securing a victory for Baltimore.
Heavy Lifting From Baltimore’s Rushing Attack
Even though Lamar Jackson was able to make a few impressive throws in the contest, this was not going to be enough for Baltimore to come out victorious. The Ravens would need their rushing attack to carry the load and carry the load they did.
Baltimore would rush for a combined 197 yards on 35 attempts in the contest. Leading the way was breakout rookie Keaton Mitchell, rushing for a game-high 64 yards. The Ravens would also get contributions from Jackson (39 yards), Zay Flowers (37), Justice Hill (31), and Gus Edwards (26). It was the contributions from the entire offense that was able to propel the Ravens offense to victory.
Looking Ahead
The Ravens will enter the bye week at 9-3 and atop the AFC North. Baltimore could use this time to not only get healthy but also find a way to make up for the loss of Mark Andrews. While Jackson was able to complete passes to seven different receivers, they are going to need someone to step up and be his number-one target in the passing game. Having a consistent go-to option for Jackson to target will make things easier as they navigate being Andrews-less in year one of a new offense under Todd Monken.
After the bye, Baltimore is facing a tough final five games to close out their season. The Ravens will face the Rams, Jaguars, 49ers, Dolphins, and Steelers. Being able to enter their week off with a buffer in the division following their win is exactly what this team needed, as this final stretch is far from easy.
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