Baltimore vs. San Diego
Tucker Boots Way to Victory as Ravens Walk-off on Bolts, 29-26.
For just the second time this season, one of those nail-biting, photo finishes finally fell in Baltimore’s favor. Joe Flacco had a hand in two touchdowns and Justin Tucker booted four field goals, including the game-winner at the horn as the Ravens notched their second victory of the season, 29-26.
Baltimore’s six losses on the season have been by a combined 30 points, all one possession games.
“You know the game’s going to come down to that,” quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters following the victory. “You just know it. We don’t make it easy. It’s just what it is, and it’s just where we are right now as a football team. We’re going to have to win games late like this, and (we’ve) just got to be proud of how we’ve stayed together throughout the whole process.”
Similar to their first win of 2015, the contest was ended by the Ravens’ surefooted kicker. Tucker went a perfect 4-of-4 on the afternoon, good from distances of 48, 29, 48, and finally 39.
“I’ll tell you what, I don’t think I’ve been as proud as I am right now to be associated with a group of guys,” nodded kicker Justin Tucker. “You look around all of these sports leagues, and you hear about the teams that have dissention within the locker room once they start struggling on gameday, but we have none of that.”
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Flacco played mistake-free football, finishing 25-of-37 for 319 passing yards, and a touchdown to tight end Crockett Gilmore. He added a rushing score on a quarterback sneak with under five minutes in regulation, which gave the Ravens a 26-23 lead at the time.
Philip Rivers had his most efficient game of the season for the Chargers, tallying a QBR of 90.3 behind 301 yards passing and three touchdown tosses. His team has been snake-bitten, much like the Ravens, losing three times this season on the final play.
“’It’s been a crazy year for both of us,’” Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said to Flacco following the game. “That’s not a 2-6 team over there. I know the Ravens can say the same things we’re saying about penalties and injuries.”
The win did come at a cost, unfortunately for Baltimore. Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. The veteran wide receiver tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg on a 3rd down conversion in the second half, and will miss the remainder of the season. Smith Sr. previously announced his intentions to retire at the end of the year, but head coach John Harbaugh believes we might not have seen the last of the man who moved to 10th all-time in NFL history in receiving yards with 13,932.
“I said, ‘Hey, we’ll be back at work tomorrow,’” head coach John Harbaugh detailed of his conversation with Steve Smith Sr. following the injury. “’We’ll see you tomorrow. There are more chapters to be written in this story.’ I told him I loved him, respected him, and admired him. That’s how I feel.”
GAME RECAP
Timmy Jernigan brought the Chargers’ opening drive to an end by sacking quarterback Philip Rivers on 3rd-and-4 to force a punt. Justin Tucker started the scoring on the ensuing drive, splitting the uprights on a 48-yard field goal try.
San Diego evened it up at 3-3 four minutes later with a 42-yard field goal from Josh Lambo. Joe Flacco jumpstarted the next Ravens’ possession by rolling to his right and hitting Steve Smith Sr. on the run for a 46-yard gain to the Chargers’ 34. Seven plays later, Tucker notched his second field goal of the day from 29 out to put Baltimore back in front, 6-3.
Rivers and company wrapped the first quarter with a 13-play, 80-yard drive which was capped by a Malcom Floyd 9-yard touchdown reception. The extra point would make it 10-6 Chargers with 10:21 left until halftime.
Their lead lasted less than six minutes as a pass-heavy drive saw Flacco complete six passes including a 39-yarder to Chris Givens and a 3-yarder to tight end Crockett Gilmore in the flat for a touchdown. Baltimore regained control, 13-10 with under five minutes in the second quarter.
The Chargers consumed all but 15 seconds of the remaining clock with a 14-play, 80-yard march. Rivers hit Keenan Allen in the end zone for the go-ahead score and San Diego carried a 16-13 advantage into the locker room after Asa Jackson blocked the point after.
Flacco opened the third quarter by throwing on six straight plays, including a 39-yard gain to Kyle Juszczyk. A Melvin Ingram quarterback sack knocked the Ravens out of the red zone, resulting in Tucker’s third field goal of the afternoon and a 16-16 tie score.
After punts by both sides, Rivers and Floyd tag teamed for the longest play of the afternoon. Despite getting knocked down by both Kendrick Lewis and Lawrence Guy, Rivers found Floyd for a 70-yard touchdown reception as the Chargers re-took the lead, 23-16 with 3:05 left in the third quarter.
Tucker’s fourth field goal of the day would close the gap to 23-19 on a drive that saw Smith Sr. helped off the field with a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg.
The fourth quarter opened with three consecutive punts, the last of which set the Ravens up in their best starting field position of the day: the Chargers’ 38. Six plays later Flacco lowered his head and snuck across the goal line for a rushing touchdown as Baltimore once again retook the edge, 26-23 with 4:37 remaining in regulation.
Completions by Rivers to Danny Woodhead and Antonio Gates put the Chargers in position to tie and Lambo knotted the score at 26-26 with a 49-yard successful field goal.
Two-and-a-half minutes was more than enough time for Flacco to lead the game-winning drive though. A defensive pass interference penalty on San Diego’s Steve Williams erased 3rd-and-19, and Tucker delivered yet again. A 39-yard field goal at the horn provided the 29-26 final score for Baltimore’s second win of the season.
UP NEXT
Baltimore (2-6) gets a week off before its next opponent. Jacksonville (2-5) enjoyed the benefits of the BYE this weekend. In Week 7 the Jaguars let a 27-3 against the Bills slip away before Blake Bortles connected with Allen Hurns on a game-winning 31-yard touchdown pass with just over two minutes remaining in a 34-31 thrilling victory.
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