INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Baltimore Ravens are on top of the AFC.
The Ravens survived 20-10 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.
Late in the fourth quarter, Ravens rookie wideout Zay Flowers took an end around 37-yards to the house for the game-sealing touchdown.
The Ravens produced 197 rushing yards against the Chargers, who dropped to 4-7 on the season. Los Angeles has now lost three straight games.
Baltimore was led by its defense. The Ravens defense had four takeaways on the night, including three forced fumbles.
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Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith tallied eight tackles and one forced fumble.
Lamar Jackson finished with 177 passing yards and one touchdown.
Baltimore has a Week 13 bye. — Tyler Dragon
Zay Flowers: Flowers, the Ravens' first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, had his best game as a pro so far. Flowers — who entered Sunday night's game with one touchdown — scored both of Baltimore's touchdowns. His second score, a 37-yard touchdown run on an end-around play, sealed the victory. Afterward, Flowers mimicked a soccer penalty kick — with Odell Beckham Jr. playing the role of goalkeeper — as his celebration.
Jadeveon Clowney: Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, had a vintage performance in his best game with the Ravens. Clowney was involved in causing two fumbles, including one on a strip sack that he recovered.
In all, the Ravens defense forced four turnovers, three fumbles and an interception
Kellen Moore's Boise State background: In the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State used a hook-and-ladder play and Statue of Liberty play to upset Oklahoma. Moore, the Chargers' offensive coordinator, played quarterback at Boise State from 2008-2011, and captured some of that era of Boise State's extemporaneous spirit during the third quarter. Keenan Allen caught a short pass from Justin Herbert, and then lateralled the ball to Austin Ekeler for a 17-yard gain. It was a rare moment of merriment from an otherwise lackluster and forgettable Chargers performance Sunday night.
AFC contenders: With the win, the Ravens enter their bye week with the best record in the conference (9-3), sitting a half game ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins. Baltimore will return to action on Dec. 10 fresh from a week off and ready for a five-game push against worthy opponents with for home-field advantage in the playoffs as the goal. Four of the Ravens' last five oppoents — the Jaguars, 49ers, Dolphins and Steelers — would be in the playoffs if the season ended today (which it doesn't).
Chargers Chargering again: No NFL team does painful defeats like the Chargers, so much so it's their brand. Something bad seemingly always happens to this team, typically at the most inopportune time. Enter Sunday's game as further evidence. After cutting into the Ravens' lead with a touchdown — and gifted an extremely rare Justin Tucker missed field goal inside 50 yards — the Chargers Chargered. They couldn't muster a game-tying field goal. Instead, Justin Herbert got called for intentional grounding on fourth-and-6. Shortly thereafter, Zay Flowers scored the touchdown that put the game away.
Brandon Staley: With yet another painful defeat, one has to wonder just how much longer Staley will be the Chargers' head coach. The Chargers fell to 4-7 on the season, sit in last place in the AFC West and are well out of playoff contention. — Jim Reineking
Rookie Zay Flowers had a touchdown catch and ran for a game-sealing score late in the fourth quarter, Baltimore’s defense forced four turnovers, and the AFC-best Ravens defeated the Chargers.
Zay Flowers and the Ravens called game.
With the game hanging in the balance, Flowers took the hand off on an end around and scampered 37 yards to the house. The touchdown gave Baltimore a 20-10 advantage with 1:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens have produced 199 rushing yards against the Chargers. — Tyler Dragon
Justin Tucker missed his first field goal inside of 50 yards this year.
Tucker’s 44-yard field goal sailed wide left with 3:02 left in the fourth quarter. The Ravens lead stayed put at 13-10 after Tucker’s misfire.
The Ravens missed field goal came at the conclusion of a 49-yard Baltimore drive.
Tucker’s made two of three field goals in the game. — Tyler Dragon
Justin Herbert led the Chargers on a seven-play, 60-yard drive to cut Los Angeles’ deficit, 13-10.
Herbert had a big 35-yard run on the drive. Five play later, Herbert passed to tight end Gerald Everett for a 3-yard touchdown.
The touchdown was the first touchdown for the Chargers. Herbert now has 175 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception with 8:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. — Tyler Dragon
The Chargers squandered an opportunity for points.
On third-and-14, Justin Herbert was sacked and stripped by Ravens defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney then had the awareness to recover the loose football on the ground on the Chargers 23-yard line.
The Ravens took over possession of the football with 12:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Herbert had to be tended to by the Chargers' medical staff after the play. He later went into the team's medical tent. — Tyler Dragon
A Justin Tucker 48-yard field goal served as the only points in a rather quite third quarter.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson had 34 passing yards and RB Keaton Mitchell had two carries for 28 yards in the third quarter.
The quarter ended with the Chargers driving in Baltimore territory.
The Chargers gained just 78 yards in the quarter. — Tyler Dragon
A little trickery by the Chargers.
On third-and-17, Justin Herbert passed to Keenan Allen on a quick slant. Allen then passed backwards across the field to running back Austin Ekeler for a 17-yard gain. The play was good enough for a Chargers first down.
The Ravens challenged the play, and the play stood as called. — Tyler Dragon
The Ravens opened the second half with a nine-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a Justin Tucker 48-yard field goal.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers had an 18-yard reception and running back Justice Hill had an 18-yard run to set up the Baltimore field goal.
Tucker’s made both his field goals Sunday night. — Tyler Dragon
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler lost his third fumble of the season. Ekeler fumbled after caught a pass by Justin Herbert. The Chargers running back had the ball stripped from him by Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen.
Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce recovered the football at the Chargers' 47-yard line with 36 seconds remaining in the first half.
Baltimore’s offense was unable to convert the turnover to points to end the half.
Both offenses were contained through two quarters.
The Chargers lost two fumbles in the first half. Baltimore has three points off Los Angeles turnovers.
The Ravens have a 10-3 advantage at halftime.
Lamar Jackson passed for 115 yards and has one touchdown to lead Baltimore. Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers has the game’s only touchdown. Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith has four tackles and one forced fumble. — Tyler Dragon
Justin Tucker converted a 42-yard field goal to extend the Ravens’ lead.
The Ravens hit the field goal after Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen fumbled the football in Los Angeles territory. — Tyler Dragon
The maligned Chargers defense got a big fourth-down stop.
The Ravens lined up in the Wildcat formation with Gus Edwards behind center. Edwards took the direct snap and ran to the right but was stopped by Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray and safety Alohi Gilman for no gain.
Baltimore turned the ball over on downs on the play. — Tyler Dragon
Lamar Jackson led the Ravens on a 12-play, 78-yard touchdown drive to give Baltimore a 7-3 advantage with 10:41 remaining in the second quarter.
Jackson found rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers for a 3-yard touchdown to cap off the series.
The Ravens quarterback is 8-of-10 passing for 84 yards and has one touchdown.
Baltimore has five players with at least one catch. — Tyler Dragon
The first quarter expired with the Chargers up 3-0 over the Ravens.
Los Angeles went on a 12-play, 54-yard drive on its opening possession and kicked a 39-yard field goal.
Cameron Dicker’s field goal served as the only points on the opening quarter.
The Ravens ended the first quarter with the football. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has 41 passing yards. Justin Herbert passed for 47 yards in the first period. — Tyler Dragon
The voice you’re hearing alongside NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico on "Sunday Night Football" for the Week 12 broadcast of the Ravens-Chargers game is not Cris Collinsworth, Tirico's usual partner.
Instead, it's former NFL head coach-turned-TV commentator Jason Garrett.
"Cris Collinsworth is enjoying the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend with his family," Tirico said on air.
Garrett, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach who joined NBC Sports in April 2022, is a game analyst for coverage of Notre Dame football and typically works as a studio analyst for "Football Night in America." — Jim Reineking
The Chargers’ promising drive ended after the officials called a controversial personal foul on guard Jamaree Salyer following what appeared to be a late hit on quarterback Justin Herbert. The penalty push the Chargers back to Baltimore’s 21-yard line and Los Angeles had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by kicker Cameron Dicker to make the score 3-0.
Herbert completed 3-of-4 passes for 44 yards on the Chargers’ opening series. — Tyler Dragon
The Ravens at Chargers will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will air on NBC and Peacock. The game is also available to stream for free on Fubo.
Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
A trio of key Ravens offensive players will be available for the "Sunday Night Football" game at SoFi Stadium. Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) and Zay Flowers (hip) are active, as is starting offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee). Stanley missed the Ravens' win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) remains out.
Ravens' inactive players:
Chargers' inactive players:
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews likely will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle injury in Week 11’s 34-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, coach John Harbaugh said after the game.
An MRI revealed the Ravens star tight end suffered a cracked fibula and an ankle ligament injury, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
During the week, however, there was more positive news.
"It wasn’t as bad as initially feared right after the game," Harbaugh said.
So is Andrews out for the season? Nothing is definitive yet, Harbaugh said.
"But it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been," Harbaugh added. "It’s cleaner than they thought, based on the MRI. The team placed Andrews on injured reserve on Saturday.
The Ravens will know more as Andrews starts his rehab under the supervision of Dr. James Andrews in Charlotte, North Carolina. There is an outside chance he could return this season, but Harbaugh didn't put a timetable on that. — Chris Bumbaca and Tyler Dragon
Chargers WR Keenan Allen is tied with Davante Adams and Julio Jones for the third-most games with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in NFL history (18). Allen leads Los Angeles in receptions (83), receiving yards (1,011) and touchdown catches (7). Entering Week 12, he’s ranked top five in the NFL in all three categories. — Tyler Dragon
Lamar Jackson leads all quarterbacks this season with 535 rushing yards. Jackson’s 4,972 career rushing yards ranks fourth all-time among NFL quarterbacks. He only trails Michael Vick, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson on the NFL’s all-time list. — Tyler Dragon
The Ravens are favorites to defeat the Chargers, according to BetMGM NFL odds.
USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
Brandon Staley’s frustrations started to boil over following the Los Angeles Chargers’ disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers when he was questioned by a reporter about whether he was going to continue calling defensive plays for the Chargers.
“I have full confidence in our way of playing. Full confidence in myself as a play caller, in the way that we teach and the way that we scheme. Full confidence in that,” Staley said postgame. “We have to bring this group together and do it consistently. And that’s where it’s at.
“You can stop asking that question. I’m going to be calling the defenses, OK? So we’re clear. So you don’t have to ask that again.” — Tyler Dragon
The comparisons to the Baltimore Ravens’ 2000 defense, one of the greatest in league history, were premature. But the 2023 version of Baltimore’s defense is worthy of its own praise.
Having a second season in defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s system has been an obvious – yet important – difference, players say.
"He’s got a somewhat complicated scheme," safety Kyle Hamilton told USA TODAY Sports. "But he’s done a great job drilling it down and making it simple for us."
Having defenders know how to do multiple things and play in different spots – especially for a 6-foot-4 safety like Hamilton – are all parts of Macdonald’s philosophy.
"I think it always keeps the offense on their toes, and I think allows us to make plays in different areas and show our versatility," Hamilton said.
Players have to keep up with the wrinkles Macdonald and his staff devise each week, edge rusher Odafe Oweh said.
"I also think guys are just getting more comfortable with the scheme and the defense," Oweh said. "Mike had all this stuff last year, too. Guys are just learning plays and being more skillful in certain positions."
Read Chris Bumbaca’s full feature here.
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