The Week 12 “Sunday Night Football” matchup features two AFC squads heading into opposite directions.
The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) have assumed the role of No. 1 seed in the conference by winning five of their past six games. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has seven touchdowns and only one interception in those five victories, and he has helped the Ravens offense score at least 31 points in five games in a row.
The Los Angeles Chargers have dropped consecutive games, both by three points, to fall into the basement of the AFC West. Their defense has sputtered most of the season, ranking second to last in total D and dead last against the pass. Head coach Brandon Staley badly needs to get things on the right track as his hot seat gets warmer.
Both teams are without key contributors after injuries in Week 11. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is likely done for the year after suffering an ankle injury that requires surgery. Meanwhile, the Chargers put star edge rusher Joey Bosa on injured reserve after he suffered a foot injury.
USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the Ravens-Chargers game. Follow along.
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Chargers defense stops Ravens on fourth down
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
Ravens 7, Chargers 3: Lamar Jackson-to-Zay Flowers TD gives Baltimore the lead
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
Chargers hold 3-0 lead at the end of first quarter
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
Jason Garrett, not Cris Collinsworth, is calling the Ravens-Chargers SNF game on NBC
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
Chargers 3, Ravens 0: Opening drive results in field goal
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
What time is Ravens vs. Chargers?
Ravens vs. Chargers: Predictions and picks
Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Ravens
- Tyler Dragon: Ravens
- Victoria Hernandez: Ravens
- Jordan Mendoza: Ravens
- Jarrett Bell: Ravens
- Safid Deen: Ravens
- Nate Davis: Ravens
- Chris Bumbaca: Ravens
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Ravens
Ravens vs. Chargers inactives: Odell Beckham Jr., Zay Flowers, Ronnie Stanley will play
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:
- LB Trenton Simpson
- LB Malik Harrison
- CB Marlon Humphrey
- C Sam Mustipher
- OG Sala Aumavae-Laulu
- QB Josh Johnson (third QB)
Chargers’ inactive players:
- S AJ Finley
- RB Isaiah Spiller
- RB Elijah Dotson
- OT Zack Bailey
- TE Nick Vannett
- WR Simi Fehoko
- DT Scott Matlock
Is Mark Andrews out for the season?
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
Keenan Allen having Pro Bowl season
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
Ravens offense sparked by star dual-threat QB
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
Ravens vs. Chargers: Predictions, picks and odds
The Ravens are favorites to defeat the Chargers, according to BetMGM NFL odds.
- Spread: Ravens (-3)
- Moneyline: Ravens (-165); Chargers (+140)
- Over/under: 48.5
USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Ravens 29, Chargers 23 — Over its last five games, Baltimore has alternated between covering and not covering spreads, so that inconsistency needs to be weighed here. But the Chargers have lost and failed to cover their last two. Los Angeles’ offense has been disjointed and the Chargers’ issues have been mostly self-inflicted.
- Tyler Dragon: Ravens 30, Chargers 23 — Brandon Staley is on the hot seat after another one-score loss. The Chargers have lost five games by three points or less this season. No other team has lost more than two such games. Baltimore is coming off a mini bye since they played last Thursday. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens could very well be the best team in the AFC. Expect the Ravens offense to exploit the Chargers terrible pass defense.
- Safid Deen: Ravens 24, Chargers 20 — The Chargers always play to their opponent. Until crunch time. I like Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to beat Justin Herbert and the Chargers in the fourth quarter even without star tight end Mark Andrews.
- Victoria Hernandez: Ravens 28, Chargers 23 — Having Joey Bosa out deflates the Chargers defense. That’s exactly what they don’t need against the high-powered Ravens offense. Lamar Jackson has so many tools at his disposal that Odell Beckham Jr. just had his first 100-yard game of the season. The Ravens get the road win and keep marking through the season.
- Jordan Mendoza: Ravens 34, Chargers 30 — Los Angeles needs this victory as the hot seat continues to scorch under Brandon Staley. Baltimore will be without Mark Andrews, but the Chargers continue to give out points, and it’ll be harder to stop Lamar Jackson without Joey Bosa. Another shootout happens in SoFi Stadium, with the visiting team coming out on top.
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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