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Summary:

This would be an exciting game to watch as the San Diego Chargers took on the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon. The Ravens were up the entire game up until the final minute of the game when the Chargers would come storming back to take the lead and, the eventual, victory. Both teams were 7-4 coming into today with playoff implications on the line as both squads are fighting for, at least, a wildcard spot in the AFC.

The Chargers’ defense gave up a ton of yardage to the Ravens but would play stellar defense once they were in the redzone as the Ravens would be held to 4 field goals for the day.

A couple of turnovers early for the Chargers resulted in early points for the Ravens which would put the Chargers in an up hill battle for the rest of the game. Luckily, the Chargers were able to be clutch with their 2-minute drive leading to the touchdown score sealing the victory bringing their record to 8-4 for the season.

Game Recap:

A game between two 7-4 teams coming into today began with the Ravens having the ball to begin the game. The Ravens would seem like they would know the importance of this game real quickly as they would execute a 8-play drive for 61 yards which would result in a 16-yard touchdown reception from quarterback, Joe Flacco, to receiver, Torrey Smith. The Ravens would have the quick lead, 0-7.

So how would the Chargers respond to the Ravens’ quick score? A 2-play drive resulting in a Philip Rivers’ interception to Ravens’ Daryl Smith. So just 5 minutes into the game the Ravens were set to take a two score lead now being in good field position.

Fortunately, for the Chargers, the Ravens would not get a first down and would be forced to a field goal try by Justin Tucker from 33 yards out. The kick would be good and the Ravens would now be up, 0-10.

The pressure would now be rising for the Chargers as they would need to score some sort of points to bring some sort of momentum back in their favor. This is exactly what the Chargers would do as they use the rest of the first quarter to do a 13-play drive for 80 yards which would end in a 12-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. The Chargers now fight back only being down, 7-10, at the start of the 2nd quarter.

The Ravens would now get the ball back, though, and continue their impressive offensive ways against the Chargers’ defense as they would march down the field with ease but would stutter as they got closer to the endzone. 11 plays and 66 yards later, the Ravens would settle for another field goal from 21 yards out which would be good giving the Ravens a 7-13 lead.

The Chargers, with the ball, would start to put together a decent drive down the field but this would all change with another Chargers’ turnover, This time, a fumble by Eddie Royal.

The Ravens have not punted for the entire day as their drives had resulted in a score each time so far. This would not be any different as the Ravens would, again move down the field pretty easily until they reached the redzone where they would be held to another field goal try. The field goal would be from 29 yards out and would, again, be good as the Ravens would now be up 7-16 with just a minute left in the half.

While the Chargers’ defense has been letting the Ravens move easily down the field, they had been solid in their redzone defense allowing only one touchdown so far.

Now with only a minute left in the half, the Chargers would like the get something together to bring the game to being just a one score game going into halftime. A 10-play drive for 46 yards would result in a long field goal try by Chargers’ kicker, Nick Novak. This would be from 52 yards out and Nick Novak would nail the kick as the Chargers would now be down, 10-16 going into halftime where there have been 0 punts so far by both teams.

The Chargers would start with the ball in the 3rd quarter and would be forced with a 3rd and 10 play where, after multiple audibles for Rivers, would get the matchup he would be looking for as he would find Malcom Floyd deep down the field for 59 yards. Now in the redzone, the Chargers would not get any closer to the endzone as they would be forced to a field goal try of 26 yards which would be good. Chargers down, 13-16.

The Ravens would get the ball back with good field position as the Chargers have been trying to avoid Ravens’ return man, Jacoby Jones, all day. The drive would start from the 47-yard line nad the Ravens would begin their march down the field once again. On a 3rd and 8 play, Flacco would scramble out of the pocket and throw it to a wide open man down the field, Kamar Aiken, who would drop the pass which could have been a touchdown with no Chargers in the vicinity.

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Still, the play would still end up in a 15-yard penalty against the Chargers as Eric Weddle, would be called for roughing the passer which would extend the Ravens’ drive. A few plays later, a Flacco pass to Torrey Smith for 10 yards would be a touchdown giving the Ravens a 13-23 lead.

The Chargers, now with the ball, would not get anything going on their next possession and would be the first team to punt in this game late in the 3rd quarter.

Fortunately, for the Chargers, the Ravens would also not be able to get anything going on their next drive and they would also be forced to do their first punt of the game.

The Chargers would begin their drive in decent field position following the Ravens’ punt and would have some nice throws down the field including one 18-yard one to Malcom Floyd. Then, one run up the middle with Ryan Mathews for 14 yards would be for a touchdown. The score would now be just a one score game with the Chargers now only down 20-23.

On the following Ravens’ possession, a bunch of drops would occur by the Ravens’ receivers but, on the flipside, there would be a bunch of penalties against the Chargers’ defense. As a result, the Ravens were still able to move the ball down the field on the longest drive of the day.

A pass interference penalty in the endzone would put the Ravens on the 2-yard line where, after a couple Charger defensive stops, the Ravens would opt to go for the quarterback sneak with Flacco on 3rd down and convert for the touchdown. The Ravens are now up 30-20 midway through the 4th quarter after a 12-play, 79 yard drive going for 7 minutes.

In crunch time for the Chargers, they needed to score as time would be running down quickly. A few nice passes down the field would get the Chargers, at least, in field goal range. Then, like on the previous Ravens’ possession, a 3rd down play would come and it would appear the offense would not convert but there would be a penalty on the defense which would extend the drive. On the very next play, Rivers would throw to Keenan Allen on a 23-yard pass in the endzone as Allen would have to do a 360 in the air in order to come down with the ball for a touchdown. The Chargers were now down, 27-30, with 3:40 left in the game.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, they have been kicking away from Jacoby Jones all day on the kickoffs and, on the one time they actually do kick it to Jones, he would make the Chargers pay with a 70-yard return down to the 30-yard line of San Diego.

On this possession, the Ravens be faced with a 3rd down play after the Chargers have already used all of their timeouts. If the Ravens converted, then the game would have been over. Instead, it would be an incompletion for Flacco and the field goal unit would come on the field for a 31-yard field goal. It would be good and the Ravens would lead 27-33 with 2 minutes left in the game.

With no timeouts left and 2 minutes to go, it would be up to the Chargers to score a touchdown in order to take the lead and win the game. It would be an intense drive as the Chargers had to fight threw many 3rd conversions but, after a defensive pass interference in the endzone, the Chargers would be setup on the 2-yard line with under a minute left to score a touchdown. On the very next play, a pass to Eddie Royal in the endzone would go for a touchdown to give the Chargers the lead with 38 seconds left up 34-33.

The Ravens had only 1 timeout left with 38 seconds to go and would not be able to accomplish much of anything as the Chargers come out with the victory, 34-33.

Quick Statistics:

San Diego Chargers –

QB – Philip Rivers – 34-45, 383 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 1 interception

RB – Ryan Mathews – 13 carries, 38 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

TE – Antonio Gates – 7 receptions, 83 receiving yards

WR – Malcom Floyd – 3 receptions, 85 receiving yards

Baltimore Ravens –

QB – Joe Flacco – 19-31, 225 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns

RB – Justin Forsett – 24 carries, 106 rushing yards

WR – Torrey Smith – 6 receptions, 65 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

LB – Daryl Smith – 8 tackles, 3 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 interception