In HarBowl 3, it seems only fitting that some of the game’s most crucial plays came from courageous coaching decisions.

The Ravens improved to 8-4 on the season after beating the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football,” 30-23.

According to experts, the reason the Ravens came out on top was Head Coach John Harbaugh’s confidence in a trio of fourth down conversions. One in particular – a fourth-and-1 from their own 16-yard line – was a historically aggressive call and was rewarded.

Here’s what the experts said about John Harbaugh’s aggressive attitude toward his brother Jim:

The Athletics Jeff Zrebiec: Perhaps the most important play of the game was a 2-yard run by a tight end. With the Ravens facing a fourth-and-1 at their own 16 after the two-minute warning in the second quarter, Harbaugh sent his charge back on the field after the stoppage, Mark Andrews took the direct snap and picked up the first down. Three plays and one defensive pass interference penalty later, the Ravens reached the end zone when Jackson hit Rashod Bateman for a 40-yard score two more times for a fourth down on a drive that started in the third quarter and they got a touchdown on that drive as well.

The Baltimore Sun Brian Wacker: “John Harbaugh gambled and won. The analytics favored the Ravens going for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 16-yard line late in the second quarter, but trailing 10-7 at that point meant it would have been disastrous not to make it. Of course, Baltimore never had to worry about that, and Harbaugh showed belief in its high-powered offense by going for it and converting on three fourth downs, including two on one drive, and scoring. then touchdowns both series, and that changed the momentum of what had been a slow start.”

The Baltimore Sun Child Walker: You won’t see wilder momentum than the Ravens’ momentum just before halftime. Coach John Harbaugh looked deep in his own zone on fourth-and-1 and made a shocking call to go for it with a direct nod to Mark. Andrews, who converted. A few plays later, Lamar Jackson hit Rashod Bateman for a 40-yard touchdown, putting Baltimore ahead 14-10.

The Baltimore Sun CJ Doon: “And how many other NFL teams would have the guts to go for it on their own 16-yard line in the second quarter? Maybe the Detroit Lions? Don’t take that for granted… That fourth down call might have saved the Ravens from being down by two scores at halftime.”

Paul Mancano of the Baltimore Banner: However, no one had a bigger impact on this game than John Harbaugh. His courageous decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from Baltimore’s 16-yard line was important. The comparison between John and his brother Jim was an obvious one to coming into this game. The Chargers are one of the NFL’s best stories, thanks in large part to the younger Harbaugh, who improved to 3-0 against his brother, showing he’s still one of the league’s best leaders. .”

CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr: With the Ravens trailing 10-7 after the two-minute warning in the second quarter, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh decided to make the bravest call of the season by going for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 16 – yard line… Without Harbaugh’s courageous call to go for it on his own, the Ravens wouldn’t have been able to change the momentum of the game. A failed conversion could have swung the entire game in the Chargers’ favor, even deepest in the home territory of a team that ended up in fourth place this year.”

NFL.com’s Grant Gordon: Trailing by three points with two minutes left in the first half, facing fourth-and-1 from Baltimore’s 16-yard line and looking for a spark, John Harbaugh eschewed any concern about the consequences and called it tight number by Mark Andrews – – at the quarterback. After the two-minute warning, the Ravens broke the huddle, sprinted to the line and Andrews lined up under center before sneaking the ball two yards away. Not long then hit Lamar Jackson Rashod Bateman for a 40-yard touchdown and the Ravens were on their way to a 30-23 victory.”

Russell Street Report Nick Polinsky: “No matter how much bullshit John Harbaugh takes, his decisions are probably the reason the Ravens won this game comfortably. The Ravens were 3/3 on 4th and scored 14 points after Harbaugh’s two 4th-and-1 decisions in his own territory.”

Press boxes Bo Smolka: “Head coach John Harbaugh likes to go for it on fourth down as much as any coach in the league, but it was still an ultra-aggressive move to go for it on the Ravens’ fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter ‘ 16. Even by his standards, it also turned out to be the call of the game.”

Although the decisions were labeled from aggressive to ultra-aggressive, the analyzes supported each of Harbaugh’s fourth decisions.