Chargers drop the ball on offense and defense in loss to Ravens

The Ravens' Rashod Bateman (7) flips over as he makes a touchdown catch over Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7).

Staff Writer

Nov. 25, 2024 Updated 11:25 PM PT

A dropped pass. Then a missed tackle. Ultimately a 51-yard touchdown by the Baltimore Ravens that spelled the end of the Chargers’ four-game winning streak.

Searching for an opportunity to establish themselves as legitimate playoff threats, the Chargers instead found mistakes, a run-weary defense and another anemic second-half offense in a 30-23 loss to the Ravens on Monday at SoFi Stadium.

The Ravens (8-4) rushed for 212 yards, a season high for a Chargers opponent, led by 140 from Derrick Henry. The defense that boasted an NFL-leading points-against average gave up a season high in points, not to mention five straight scoring drives that easily erased an early 10-0 Chargers’ lead.

“They played better football than we did tonight,” said Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who fell to 0-3 in NFL matchups against his older brother, John. “But more importantly, we know what kind of team we are and what we’re capable of.”

That team, quarterback Justin Herbert said, is one that simply wins games. It plays complementary football, scores points in the red zone, and converts on third down.

The Chargers (7-4) missed on most accounts. They owned more than a 7-minute advantage in time of possession in the first half, but finished with nearly a 2-minute disadvantage. The Ravens converted on 53.3% of their third-down tries compared to the Chargers’ 35.7% success rate.

With a weapon such as Henry, moving the chains felt inevitable. The running back fueled the Ravens’ first touchdown drive, rushing for 44 of the drive’s 70 yards. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound Henry ran through defenders, stiff-armed them to the turf and burst through open holes.

The former Tennessee Titans star was a perfect offseason addition to the Ravens’ offense, his punishing style a fit for a team known for physicality.

“We knew what we was gonna get,” outside linebacker Khalil Mack said, “and that’s the frustrating thing about it.”

The Chargers were in their second consecutive game against an AFC North team in prime time that had a playoff atmosphere. Last week felt like a Chargers statement as they stirred from a second-half malaise just in time to fight off the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Chargers' Quentin Johnston (1) drops a pass late in the game as he is defended by the Ravens' Tre'Davious White (25).

Instead of clutch Herbert connections Monday, however, the Chargers got a drop from Quentin Johnston on third and six with 10:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The receiver who has vastly improved from a shaky rookie season to lead the Chargers with six touchdown catches got a visit from his former drop-prone self, letting a ball glance off his hands with plenty of room to run ahead.

The drop forced a Chargers defense that had just been on the field for 14 plays over 6 minutes and 36 seconds back into action.

Six plays later, Justice Hill — a 5-foot-10, 195-pound former fourth-round pick who is a dramatic change of pace in running style from the towering 6-3 Henry — scored the decisive touchdown on a 51-yard rush around the left edge.

Hill left Chargers safety Alohi Gilman grasping at air as he broke past the line of scrimmage and burst upfield.

Justice Hill (43) completes a 51-yard touchdown run to seal the Ravens' victory over the Chargers.

“For the most part, we beat ourselves up,” said Johnston, who had zero catches on five targets. “It starts with me.”

Herbert threw for 218 yards on 21-for-36 passing and rushed for a touchdown. Lamar Jackson was an efficient 16 for 22 for 177 yards passing and two touchdowns while adding a score on the ground.

The Chargers, who went through five consecutive games without scoring a second-half touchdown, scored two touchdowns in their 12 second-half drives against the Bengals and Ravens. They have punted seven times, fumbled once and kicked two field goals.

“I thought we did a good job moving the ball, we just got to go score points in the red zone,” said Herbert, who disputed the idea that the Chargers have struggled during the second half. Yet, they had 47 yards on three drives before a final 63-yard touchdown drive made the stat sheet only slightly more bearable.

The quarterback’s electric play against the Bengals was drawing “M-V-P” chants from the fans at SoFi Stadium last week. Chargers fans showed up again, rocking the stadium during a Ravens fourth-and-one ... that the visitors converted.

When the visiting team started pulling away, however, the powder blue shirts disappeared from the stands.

Chants of “Let’s go Ravens” remained.