kirkandmariannethumb2
On Air Now
The Kirk & Marianne Bonus Round
Listen Live
Listen Live
Listen Live
Facebook Twitter Instagram Apple Google-play Youtube

Ravens send message to league with commanding win in San Francisco

Share:
baltimore-ravens-v-san-francisco-49ers

Recap by Anders Culiner

The Ravens traveled to San Francisco for a Monday Night Christmas special against the 49ers in one of the most hyped games of the 2023 season. Baltimore and San Francisco had been rolling through their opponents leading into tonight, and both teams boasted 11-3 records along with the current No. 1 slot in their respective conferences. Many were calling this one a preview of this year’s Super Bowl, but once the game started, it was all Ravens. The first half was highlighted by three takeaways from Baltimore’s defense, but the 49ers managed to keep it close as the game went into halftime. From there, the Ravens went on a run of twenty unanswered points while their defense stopped San Francisco’s potent offense dead in their tracks. The strong second half proved to be the difference in the end as Baltimore took down one of the NFL’s best teams for the only present they had been wishing for, which came in the form of a comprehensive 33-19 victory.

The Ravens started the game on offense. Baltimore could only muster a couple of yards before two incompletions led to a punt.

Facing an early third-and-long at their own fourteen-yard-line, Brock Purdy found tight end, George Kittle, over the middle for a 58-yard catch-and-run to move inside the Ravens’ 30-yard line. Kittle spotted them even closer on the next play with another first-down reception. After two heavy blows to their defense, Baltimore stopped the bleeding when Kyle Hamilton intercepted Purdy in the endzone. 

After moving the chains for the first time of the night, the Ravens were the victims of an early disaster. Facing immense pressure from defensive standouts Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, Jackson was forced to retreat. Unfortunately, Jackson had been chased back into his own endzone, and as he was about to fall down, he threw the ball away. The play was ruled as intentional grounding, and because Jackson was in the endzone at the time of the throw, San Francisco was awarded an early safety.

The 49ers took over at their own twenty-one-yard-line. Running back, Christian McCaffrey, broke loose for a fourteen-yard gain on the first play of the series. Purdy moved them into Baltimore territory with an eighteen-yard completion to wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. Three plays later, San Francisco was facing a fourth-and-one. Baltimore appeared to make the stop when Marlon Humphrey came up with a sack. However, Ronald Darby was called for defensive holding to hand the 49ers a new set of downs. The Ravens eventually held them to a fourth-and-long, and San Francisco sent out their kicking unit. Jake Moody made the 45-yarder to give his team a 5-0 lead.

Zay Flowers picked up a first down on the drive’s opening play. Baltimore then picked up a free twenty-one yards when the 49ers were called for defensive pass interference on a crucial third down. San Francisco’s sizable penalties didn’t stop there as a facemask infraction just two plays later moved the Ravens inside the fifteen-yard line. Baltimore couldn’t take full advantage of the penalties with a touchdown and settled for a twenty-eight-yard field goal from Justin Tucker.

Kittle’s eventful first quarter continued as the tight end hauled in a twenty-one-yard catch to start the possession. One play later, Purdy hit wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, for fifteen more yards. The Ravens’ defense came up with another turnover when Brandon Stephens tipped Purdy’s pass to the side of the field. Humphrey came down with the ball for the interception, Baltimore’s second of the night.

The first quarter came to a close after the drive’s first play.

Starting with the ball at midfield, Jackson got things going with a fourteen-yard completion to Rashod Bateman. Flowers pulled in the next two passes for another first down. The Ravens found themselves ten yards away from the goal line when Odell Beckham Jr. kept the chains moving with a five-yard grab. On a third-and-ten, Isaiah Likely caught an eight-yard pass to set up a fourth-and-one. Harbaugh kept his offense out there to go for the touchdown, and that decision paid off when Gus Edwards did what he does best and plunged forward for a one-yard score. 

In light of the Holidays, The 49ers were certainly in the spirit of giving as Kyle Hamilton was once again the recipient of another gift. Purdy attempted a pass to Kittle after he was rushed out of the pocket. The ball bounced off of Kittle’s hands, and right into the arms of Hamilton. A chop block penalty on San Francisco awarded the Ravens fifteen additional yards, and optimal starting field positional already inside the redzone.

Baltimore only went back three yards in as many plays, and Tucker was called on again. Tucker drilled his 41-yard kick to give the Ravens an eight-point lead. 

Looking to right the ship after several turnovers, San Francisco kept it simple with short passes to move past midfield. After a few plays of intermediate yardage, McCaffrey flipped with field with a 39-yard carry to spot his offense at the Ravens’ nine-yard line. The 49ers went right back to McCaffery, who capped the drive off with a nine-yard touchdown run, cutting their deficit to one.

Baltimore had to take ten steps backwards early in the drive when John Simpson was hit with a hands-to-the-face infraction. Jackson and co. overcame the penalty with completions to Flowers and Likely for a new set of downs right before the two minute warning. Baltimore appeared to be on their way into Tucker’s range when Charlie Kolar came down with a seventeen-yard catch, but Ronnie Stanley was flagged for an offensive face mask shortly after, sending his offense fifteen yards back. Staring down a long third down, Jackson evaded the 49ers pass rush and took off for 31 yards before being stopped at the ten-yard line. Baltimore attempted one last pass to the endzone with twelve seconds left in the half, and when Jackson’s pass went incomplete, it was time for Tucker. The storied kicker put his chip shot through the uprights as the first half came to an end.

 

The two teams went into halftime with the Ravens leading 16-12.

San Francisco received the second half kickoff. Baltimore’s defense held strong to force a quick three-and-out before the inevitable punt. Not only did Tylan Wallace take the return back twenty-five yards, but the 49ers were hit with yet another fifteen-yard penalty when punter Mitch Wishnowski hit Wallace late out of bounds. This gave Jackson and the offense ideal field position at the San Francisco 44-yard line.

Edwards is known for his presence in the running game, but he showed that he can be useful through the air when he turned a short pass from Jackson into a 41-yard catch-and-run. Not too long after, Nelson Agholor hauled in his fourth touchdown of the year with a six-yard score.

The Ravens’ defense had been buzzing throughout, and their monstrous outing only got better when Patrick Queen joined in on the fun. Purdy, with intense pressure, was hit as he was attempting a pass. Queen plucked the pass out of the air and returned the interception down inside the ten-yard line.

Jackson made quick work of the incredibly short field with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Flowers, making it a 30-12 game in the blink of an eye.

Needing to find their way back in the contest, Purdy went deep early with a twenty-yard completion to Samuel. That was all the 49ers were able to show as they were punting after the next three plays went nowhere. The only silver lining for San Francisco was that they were able to down the punt at the Baltimore five-yard line. 

The Ravens received some breathing room when a defensive holding call on San Francisco provided them the initial first down. Jackson helped his offense get out of trouble entirely when he linked up with Likely for a 34-yard completion. On the very next play, Justice Hill took off for 23 yards on a short pass. Baltimore picked up another first down and even drove the ball to the one-yard line before being faced with a fourth-and-goal. With the large lead and little resistance from the opposition, Harbaugh chose to take the points and sent Tucker out for the easiest field goal one could ask for to give the Ravens a three-touchdown lead.

With the game falling out of reach rapidly, the 49ers worked their way into Ravens territory on the back of two first down receptions from Kittle and McCaffrey. As they did on their last drive, Baltimore’s defense held San Francisco’s offense to a fourth down. The 49ers decided to go for the fourth-and-long, but they only made it back to the line of scrimmage, resulting in a turnover on downs. 

The game entered the fourth quarter during the previous possession.

The Ravens were once again beginning a drive in enemy territory, and they were already in position to drain the clock. Baltimore could only pick up one first down before a sack from San Francisco moved them out of field goal range. With no need to take any risks, the Ravens punted it away with ten minutes left in regulation.

With hope hanging by a few threads, San Francisco needed some big plays fast. Aiyuk singlehandedly spotted his offense inside the Baltimore 40-yard line with two receptions totaling 55 yards. The 49ers rough night only got worse when Purdy left the game after a sack from Jadeveon Clowney. Former first round pick, Sam Darnold, came in at quarterback for San Francisco. Fresh off the bench, Darnold guided the 49ers to a scoring drive that was finished off with a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver, Ronnie Bell. This cut Baltimore’s lead to fourteen, but only seven minutes remained.

San Francisco’s defense got the quick three-and-out they were looking for, and after the punt, they had a chance to make things interesting.

Clowney put the home team in an early hole with a sack on first down, but the 49ers found a way to make up for all the yards lost as Samuel kept the drive alive with a first down reception on a fourth-and-long. Aiyuk put San Francisco in scoring position with 31 yards on two receptions and even drew a pass interference call that set them up at the two-yard line. The Ravens’ defense eventually held them to a fourth-and-goal when Brent Urban notched himself a sack. Marcus Williams intercepted Darnold’s final heave to the endzone, and now all Baltimore had to do was run out the final minute.

Edwards picked up the one first down they needed before Jackson took the final kneel-down to ice the game, solidifying an emphatic 33-19 win for the Ravens.

Baltimore improves to 12-3 while continuing to sit comfortably in front of the AFC North. One more win or a loss from the Cleveland Browns over the next two weeks would officially hand the Ravens the division title. Baltimore will be in for another high-stakes matchup next week as they will take on the Miami Dolphins in a battle for control of the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Related Posts

Upcoming Events

View Calendar
Loading...