The Baltimore Ravens (8-6), led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, met the Los Angeles Chargers (11-3), led by quarterback Philip Rivers, in a Week 16 NFL football game on Saturday, December 22, 2018 (12/22/18) at ROKiT Field at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
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Here’s the AP recap:
CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw for 204 yards and had the longest touchdown pass of his brief career, and the Baltimore Ravens strengthened their chances of clinching a playoff spot with a 22-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night.
The Ravens (9-6) — who have won five of their last six with Jackson as the starter — dominated for most of the night to remain in possession of the last wild-card spot. They briefly trailed 10-6 early in the third quarter before Jackson completed a 68-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews.
Justin Tucker’s third field goal extended the lead to six and they put it away late in the fourth quarter when Patrick Onwuaso forced Antonio Gates’ fumble and Tavon Young returned it 62 yards.
Jackson, who was the 32nd overall pick in April, had his first 200-yard passing game, completing 12 of 22. He had come into the game averaging 146.2 yards in the previous five games. Gus Edwards had 92 yards on 14 carries, and Jackson had 39 yards on 13 carries.
The Ravens’ defense, which came into the game as the top-ranked unit in the NFL, frustrated the Chargers most of the night. Philip Rivers — who was 23 of 37 for 181 yards — was sacked four times, threw an interception and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season.
Melvin Gordon, who missed the past three games due to a knee injury, had 41 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. Los Angles (11-4) has clinched a playoff spot, but its hopes of winning the AFC West suffered a major blow. Kansas City can wrap up the division with a win on Sunday at Seattle.
Baltimore led 6-3 at halftime but the Chargers took the lead less than two minutes into the third quarter on Gordon’s touchdown from a yard out. The Ravens got the ball to start the second half but Chargers rookie safety Derwin James forced Kenneth Dixon’s fumble, which was recovered by Melvin Ingram at the Ravens 21 and returned 3 yards.
The Ravens quickly answered on the ensuing possession when tight end Andrews split safeties Adrian Phillips and Jahleel Addae, taking Jackson’s pass 67 yards. They made it 16-10 on their next possession on a 56-yard field goal by Tucker — his league-leading 38th field goal of 50-plus yards.
The Chargers got the opening possession but promptly turned it over when Rivers’ pass was intercepted by Brandon Carr on a throw intended for Mike Williams on the first play. The Ravens converted the turnover into three points on Tucker’s 24-yard field goal. The big play of the drive was a 43-yard run by Edwards — the longest rushing play the Chargers have allowed this season.
Baltimore made two more trips to the red zone in the first half, but could only muster Tucker’s 35-yard field goal. On the Ravens’ third drive, they got as far as the 2, but Jackson was incomplete on a pass intended for Michael Crabtree in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 3.
Los Angeles got to 6-3 late in the second quarter on Michael Badgley’s 38-yard field goal.
UP NEXT
Ravens: Host Cleveland on Dec. 30.
Chargers: Travel to Denver on Dec. 30.
Here’s what you need to know:
Who: Ravens vs. Chargers
What: NFL, Week 16
When: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018
Where: ROKiT Field at StubHub Center
Time: 8:20 p.m. Eastern
TV: NFL Network
Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish
Livestream: NFL.com
Replay: NFL GamePass (Subscription required)
Line: Chargers -4.5 (Latest odds from FanDuel)
Ravens notes: BALTIMORE has rushed for 190+ yards in 5 consecutive games & is 1st team to accomplish feat since 1976 PITTSBURGH STEELERS. * QB LAMAR JACKSON (rookie) passed for 1 TD vs. 0 INTs with 91 rating & had 95 rush yards last week. Has 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 88.4 rating & 142 rush yards (71 per game) with rush TD in 2 career road starts. Has 65+ rush yards in each of his 1st 5 career starts. * RB GUS EDWARDS (rookie) had 104 rush yards & TD last week, his 3rd-career 100-yard game. Has 486 rush yards (97.2 per game) & 2 TDs in his past 5. RB KENNETH DIXON has rush TD in 2 of his past 3 on road. * WR WILLIE SNEAD IV led team with 5 receptions for 58 yards last week. Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 6. WR JOHN BROWN had TD catch in his only career game vs. Chargers (9/8/14 with Az.). TE MARK ANDREWS leads rookie TEs in rec. yards (415) & ranks 2nd in receptions (28). * LB TERRELL SUGGS has 3.5 sacks & 5 TFL in his past 5 on road. Has 3.5 sacks in his past 5 vs. Chargers. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Charger with sack. S ERIC WEDDLE aims for his 3rd in row on road with PD. Had 71 PD, 19 INTs, incl. 3 INT-TDs, 6.5 sacks, 5 FFs & 4 FRs in 9 seasons with Chargers (2007-15). CB MARLON HUMPHREY had career-high 4 PD & 3rd-career INT last week. LB C.J. MOSLEY led team with 8 tackles & had .5 sack in Week 15.
Biggest sports knuckleheads of 2018
Chargers notes: * QB PHILIP RIVERS passed for 313 yards with 2 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 89 rating last week. Has 2,199 pass yards (314.1 per game) & 16 TDs vs. 4 INTs for 114.4 rating in 7 home games this season. Has 684 pass yards (342 per game) & 6 TDs vs. 1 INT for 119.2 rating in his past 2 vs. Bal. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Bal. with 300+ yards, 3+ TDs & 110+ rating. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 112.4 rating. * RB MELVIN GORDON has 667 scrimmage yards (133.4 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 5 home games in 2018. Has 120+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his past 6 at home. Has 256 scrimmage yards (128 per game) & 3 rush TDs in his past 2 vs. AFC North. Rookie RB JUSTIN JACKSON had career-high 85 scrimmage yards & rush TD last week. Has rush TD in 2 of his past 3. * WR KEENAN ALLEN aims for his 3rd in row vs. Bal. & 4th in row at home with TD catch. Has 7 TD catches in his past 9 vs. AFC North. WR MIKE WILLIAMS had 7 catches for 76 yards & 3 TDs (2 rec. & 1st-career rush TD) & caught GW 2-pt. conversion last week. Has 5 TDs (4 rec., 1 rush) in his past 4. * DE JOEY BOSA has 4 sacks & FR in his past 4 at home. Has 5 sacks & FF in 4 career games vs. AFC North. Aims for his 3rd in row at home & 4th in row vs. AFC North with sack & TFL. DE MELVIN INGRAM had 1.5 sacks in Week 15. Had 1.5 sacks in last meeting. Rookie S DERWIN JAMES has 7+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 at home. Is only player in 2018 with 90+ tackles (93), 3+ sacks (3.5) & 3+ INTs (3). — NFL Communications
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News