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Ravens topple Chargers during Harbaugh brothers reunion
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Ravens topple Chargers during Harbaugh brothers reunion

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh remained undefeated in the NFL’s historic sibling rivalry, defeating his brother Jim’s Los Angeles Chargers 30-23. He kept the upper hand on Jim with some gutsy calls and another dominant effort from quarterback Lamar Jackson on Monday night.

John Harbaugh improved to 3-0 over his younger brother, in part because Baltimore went 3-for-3 on fourth-down conversions — all extended drives that resulted in touchdowns. This marked the first time John and Jim faced each other as opposing head coaches since Super Bowl XLVII 11 years ago.

Jackson totaled three scores, ran for one touchdown and threw touchdown passes of 40 and 6 yards. In nine “Monday Night Football” games, Jackson has recorded 22 touchdown passes and no interceptions – the most consecutive touchdown passes without an interception in “Monday Night Football” history.

The Ravens (8-4) moved within a half-game of the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) for first place in the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

Promising trend: Running back Derrick Henry continues to show that Baltimore has success when it gives him the ball. The Ravens are now 9-1 when Henry gets 15 or more carries. Henry gained 140 yards on 24 carries, becoming the second player to record more than 100 yards rushing against the Chargers. But this was the first time in 12 games that Henry didn’t reach the end zone. He failed to tie Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerry Rice and John Riggins for the third-longest streak of scoring a touchdown in a season in NFL history.

Eye-popping statistic: The Ravens came through with a big gamble with 2:00 left in the first half, when tight end Mark Andrews took a direct charge and moved forward to convert a fourth-and-1 at the 16- Baltimore yard line. According to ESPN Research, no team had converted a fourth-down goal so deep in their own territory in the first half since the 2012 Rams, who did so on a fake punt. Four plays later, Jackson went deep and connected with Rashod Bateman for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens their first lead at 14-10. The 2012 Rams made that conversion against Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers.

Describe the game in two words: Never panic. Trailing 10-0 early in the second quarter, Jackson led Baltimore to scores on five straight drives, reaching the end zone four times. This was against a Chargers defense that ranked No. 1 in fewest points allowed (14.5) and had not allowed a team to score 30 points this season. The Ravens’ four wins after trailing by 10 this season are tied for the most by any team in a full season since 2000. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday)


Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

As the Chargers jumped to a 7-3 start this season, their inexperienced receiving corps became a bit of an afterthought. Much-maligned first-round rookie receiver Quentin Johnston seemed to have found his footing, leading the team with six touchdowns. Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey emerged as Justin Herbert’s top target and one of the league’s top rookies. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer had been a consistent safety valve for Herbert, making big catches when pressing the key.

But Monday night that changed. With the Chargers trailing by seven and on their own 34-yard line, Herbert found a wide-open Johnston running down the field, but Johnston dropped the ball.

On the next drive, Ravens running back Justice Hill scored a 51-yard touchdown, effectively ending the game. It was an ending that the Chargers had grown accustomed to last season, but was absent for the first ten games of this season.

Troubling trend: The Chargers continue to struggle to score in the second half. They entered Monday night averaging 8.2 points per game in the second half, third-lowest in the NFL. That battle continued as the Ravens outscored them 16 to 3 in the second half before getting a late score from running back Gus Edwards with 46 seconds left. “It’s just something we strive for,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman has said of the second-half struggles.

Hole in game plan: Stopping the flight. The Chargers allowed 212 rushing yards, the most they have allowed in a game this season. It was the first time in Jim Harbaugh’s NFL career as head coach that his team allowed 200 rushing yards in a game.

Forecast for next week: Edwards has his first rushing game of over 100 yards. Running back JK Dobbins has been the star of the Chargers’ backfield this season, but left Monday’s game with a left knee injury. If Dobbins misses time, it paves the way for Edwards to take the bulk of the Chargers against the Atlanta Falcons and have his best game of the season. –Kris Rhim

Next game: at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday)