Once the Chargers fell behind again, it was all downhill for them, because Baltimore’s defense was swarming. Every phase of the Ravens’ defense was excellent. Rivers was sacked four times, twice by Onwuasor, who had a superb all-around game. Safety Tony Jefferson had several bone-jarring tackles, while the Ravens’ top four cornerbacks were all excellent – Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Young, and Carr, plastering Los Angeles’ receivers all over the field.
This was the first Chargers game all season that Rivers did not throw at least one touchdown pass. Baltimore’s defense limited Los Angeles to 198 total yards of offense. The Chargers had not been held under 200 yards since 2014.
The Ravens cannot let up, still needing to clinch a playoff spot heading into their Week 17 home game against the Cleveland Browns. But with the defense playing like this, there is no team the Ravens don’t match up well against, no opponent that can count on moving the ball at will against Baltimore.
This performance embodied what the players and coaches mean by “Ravens football.” It was physical, it was impressive, and it made a statement to the Chargers, and to anyone who saw it. The Ravens (9-6) have won five of their last six games. And with this defense, the best may be yet to come.
“Just very, very proud of our guys,” Head Coach John Harbough said. “Very appreciative of the effort. So many guys stepped up and made plays. … Turnovers complement our defense. To see guys like Peanut (Onwuasor) and Tavon come up with those plays, man, that’s the final piece to our defense.”
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News