By Tim Peterson
(Inglewood) – The Chargers turned the ball over four times and ultimately couldn’t overcome the mistakes in a 20-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday before 70, 240 Sunday Night Football fans at SoFi Stadium.
The Chargers, down by three, had a chance late in the fourth quarter after Baltimore’s Justin Tucker missed a field goal with 2:57 left but they couldn’t take advantage. They turned the ball over on downs with 1:51 remaining and the Ravens scored on the next possession to ice it.
The Chargers scored on their opening possession on a Cameron Dicker 39-yard field goal.
Baltimore took the lead driving 78 yards on 12 plays. Zay Flowers caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to finish it and give the Ravens a 7-3 lead with 10:41 left in the second quarter.
Later in the quarter the Ravens went for it on fourth and 1 at the Chargers 29-yard line but they were stopped for no gain and the LA took over from there.
But on the very next possession Keenan Allen was hit and the ball popped loose. Brent Urban recovered it for Baltimore at the Chargers 34. The Ravens took advantage with a 42-yard field goal by Justin Tucker to make it 10-3 with 1:12 left in the second quarter.
On the Chargers next series they coughed it up again. Austin Ekeler fumbled after a reception and Michael Pierce fell on it at the LA 47, but the Chargers were able to hold on fourth down.
The Chargers got the ball back one more time with three seconds left but Justin Herbert’s pass was intercepted by Arthur Maulet as the first half clock ran out.
Tucker booted a 38-yard field goal with 10:53 left in the third quarter to increase Baltimore’s lead to 13-3.
Late in the third quarter the Chargers moved the ball deep into Baltimore territory but Herbert fumbled after being hit and the Ravens recovered at their own 23 to stop the threat.
The Ravens weren’t able to move the ball though and were forced to punt early in the fourth quarter.
Following the punt the Chargers put together a 7-play, 60-yard drive. Herbert hit Gerald Everett on a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the Ravens lead to 13-10 with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter. The score was set up by a 35-yard run by Herbert down to the Baltimore 12-yard line.
Tucker then missed a 42-yard field goal wide left with 2:57 left in the fourth giving the Chargers new life. However LA’s offense was stopped on fourth down with 1:51 left.
Baltimore took over and 3 plays later Flowers took a reverse sweep and raced 37 yards for a touchdown with 1:36 left for a 20-10 lead to secure the win.
On the Chargers last possession Herbert’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down at the LA 37 with 53 seconds left and the Ravens ran out the clock.
Herbert completed 29 of 44 for 217 yards and a touchdown but he also threw an interception and lost a fumble. Allen had 14 receptions for 106 yards and also lost a fumble and the Chargers had only 86 yards total on the ground.
For the Ravens Jackson was 18 of 32 for 177 yards and a touchdown and he also ran for 39 yards on 11 carries. Flowers had the one carry for 37 yards and a touchdown and also caught 5 passes for 25 yards.
The Chargers fell to 4-7 with the loss with six games remaining and will face New England next week. The Ravens improved to 9-3.
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