Picks their poison as Ravens roll
Defense grabs 5 interceptions; Jackson boosts case for MVP
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — ‘Tis the season of giving, or at least it was Monday night at Levi’s Stadium.
In a battle between NFL Most Valuable Player candidates on Christmas night, the Ravens’ defense harassed 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy into four interceptions, while Lamar Jackson continually escaped San Francisco’s pass rush, threw two touchdown passes and led Baltimore to a 33-19 victory.
The win keeps the Ravens (12-3) atop the AFC and gives them the best record in the NFL. It was also a statement with purpose.
If the Ravens can beat the Miami Dolphins next week at M&T Bank Stadium, they will lock up the top seed in the conference, get the first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
But first, the Ravens will savor this one. In a game billed as a battle between MVP favorites Purdy and Jackson, it was also a showdown of the NFL’s two stingiest defenses, and Baltimore’s broke San Francisco (11-4) physically and with the dynamic playmaking of its quarterback.
After the 49ers took a 5-0 first-quarter lead on a safety in which Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone after tripping over a fallen official, the Ravens responded with 13 straight points that were aided by interceptions first from safety Kyle Hamilton then cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Then Hamilton picked off Purdy again.
That helped set up two field goals by Justin Tucker from 28 and 41 yards along with a 1-yard score by running back Gus Edwards.
The 49ers outgained the Ravens 144-42 in the opening quarter, but only managed a 5-3 lead and paid for it.
San Francisco answered with a touchdown of its own from its other MVP candidate, running back Christian McCaffrey, from 9 yards out with 3:29 remaining in the first half to cut the deficit to one, but that was as close as the 49ers would get the rest of the night.
Jackson simply happened, as he so often does.
With the Ravens facing third-and-16 from the 49ers’ 41 with 24 seconds remaining in the half and no one open as Jackson scanned the field and Chase Young closed in from behind, the quarterback slipped away from the defender.
That’s when the circus act took hold with the quarterback weaving and slicing his way through the 49ers’ defense for a 30-yard gain. The play led to a third field goal by Tucker, this time from 28 yards, to close out the half, giving Baltimore a 16-12 lead.
In the second half, the Ravens’ defense picked up where it left off in the first, holding the 49ers to a three-and-out before a 23-yard punt return by Tylan Wallace that was padded by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on a hit out of bounds by punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
One play later, Jackson scrambled away from pressure and after a few seconds found a wide-open Edwards on a short pass in the middle of the field. The back rumbled for 39 yards, and two plays later Jackson again escaped the rush, scrambled left and on the run hit Nelson Agholor for a 6-yard score on the sideline.
It didn’t take nearly as long for Baltimore to then ostensibly put the game out of reach.
On the 49ers’ next possession and with the ball on their own 25, Purdy lofted a short pass intended for McCaffrey that landed in the hands of linebacker Patrick Queen, who returned it 21 yards to the 9. Jackson then found an open Zay Flowers in the back of the end zone, extending the lead to 30-12.
Baltimore then broke San Francisco’s will, if it hadn’t been already, driving 89 yards in 11 plays, highlighted by a 34-yard completion to tight end Isaiah Likely down the left sideline followed by a short dropoff to Justice Hill that went for 23 more. That helped set up a 24-yard field goal by Tucker late in the third.
With Purdy out of the game with a stinger (ABC’s broadcast said he was cleared to return but did not), backup Sam Darnold hit wide receiver Ronnie Bell on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 6:23 left in the game, but they wouldn’t score again the rest of the night.
Jackson finished 23 of 35 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 45 yards on seven carries. Perhaps most important, he also didn’t turn the ball over.
The Ravens quarterback is the betting favorite to win his second MVP Award after being the unanimous choice in 2019.