Week 16 of the 2018 NFL season will feature a marquee Saturday Night Football game on Saturday, December 22, 2018 (12/22/18) when the Baltimore Ravens take on the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. EST on NFL Network.
The Ravens are led by head coach John Harbaugh, quarterback Lamar Jackson, and pass rusher Terrell Suggs. Baltimore is coming off a Week 15 win vs. the Bucs and enters the game with an 8-6 record.
The Chargers are led by head coach Anthony Lynn, quarterback Philip Rivers, and pass rusher Joey Bosa. Los Angeles is coming in off a Week 15 win over to the Chiefs and enter the game with an 11-3 record.
Here’s how our experts see the game playing out.
Mike Kaye: This may be the biggest Saturday night game of the season. The Ravens’ playoff hopes are on the line out west against the surging Chargers (no pun intended). Philip Rivers is going to ruin Lamar Jackson’s hopes and dreams for the weekend. Chargers 33, Ravens 24.
Zack Rosenblatt: All of a sudden, the Chargers have a real shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and Philip Rivers is a legitimate MVP candidate. Maybe this is the year the Chargers finally turn the corner and live up to their potential? The Ravens are a difficult matchup for any team now with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, but the Chargers should continue their ascension. Chargers 24, Ravens 20.
Matthew Stypulkoski: The Chargers have already clinched a playoff spot, while the Ravens are barely hanging onto the last wild card thanks to some tiebreakers. Sure, the Chargers are still scrapping for the division title, but fighting for your postseason life creates an entirely different kind of desperation. Ravens 21, Chargers 17.
Ryan Dunleavy: Maybe the Chargers are the best team in Los Angeles. That would have been blasphemy just a few weeks ago when the Rams were rolling. The Ravens hold the No. 6 playoff spot in the AFC right now, but the Chargers actually could wind up with the No. 1 seed. Philip Rivers is playing like a MVP candidate but he is overdue for postseason success. Chargers 28, Ravens 20.
Darryl Slater: Maybe Ravens coach John Harbaugh won’t wind up getting fired after this season. The Ravens have won four of their past five games coming out of their bye week. But this trip to Los Angeles is a big challenge for rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Chargers are elite, and coach Anthony Lynn has done a fantastic job with them. Chargers 38, Ravens 23.
Joe Giglio: The Ravens have the defense and running game to travel anywhere and win. Los Angeles, off their biggest win of the season, doesn’t need this game nearly as much as Baltimore does. Here comes the upset. Ravens 24, Chargers 23.
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News