Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Who has the edge?
CHARGERS (4-6) vs. RAVENS (8-3)
When: 5:20 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: Ch. 4/98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Ravens by 3
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: TE Nick Vannett (concussion), S JT Woods (illness). QUESTIONABLE: TE Gerald Everett (chest), WR Jalen Guyton (groin).
Ravens: OUT: TE Mark Andrews (ankle), LB Trent Simpson (concussion). DOUBTFUL: LB Malik Harrison (groin), QUESTIONABLE: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder), WR Zay Flowers (hip), CB Marlon Humphrey (calf), TE Charlie Kolar (illness), T Ronnie Staley (knee), CB Damarion Williams (ankle).
What’s at stake: The Chargers need a victory in order to end their third two-game losing streak of the season, a tall order considering the Raven’s lofty record and standing atop the AFC going into Week 12 around the league. A victory would keep the Ravens ahead of the surprising Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Baltimore has won four of its past five. The Chargers, last in the AFC West, have lost three of five, including a disappointing 23-20 defeat last week at Green Bay.
Who’s better: This looked like a game worth circling on the calendar for football fans from coast to coast when the schedule was announced over the summer. The Chargers and Ravens appeared to be teams ready for prime time. Now, it would appear that only the Ravens fit that category, what with the Chargers failing to meet preseason expectations and casting doubts on the futures of general manager Tom Telesco and coach Brandon Staley.
Matchup to watch: They won’t be on the field at the same time after the pregame warmup, but quarterbacks Justin Herbert of the Chargers and Lamar Jackson of the Ravens are two of the more dynamic practitioners of their craft. Herbert has been sensational in losses to the Packers and the Lions, throwing two touchdowns against Green Bay and four against Detroit. Jackson has completed nearly 70% of his passes with 12 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
Chargers win if: Everything has to go right for the Chargers to defeat the Ravens. Their defense can’t have the lapses it did against the Packers, especially in pass coverage. The offense must move the ball consistently and cash in red-zone opportunities, something it also didn’t do against Green Bay. The Chargers also must pressure Jackson steadily, something they have done on occasion this season, including during last Sunday’s game.
Fantasy sleeper: Herbert is no sleeper, but he should be one to watch. Much depends on whether Everett and Guyton are healthy enough to play and to be additional targets for Herbert, who has relied so much on veteran Keenan Allen as his top receiver since Mike Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Chargers’ victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.
Prediction: It doesn’t seem possible that the Chargers can upset the Ravens. It also doesn’t seem possible that the Chargers can stay close to the Ravens. Stranger things have happened in the NFL. Any given Sunday, right? But realistically too much has to go perfectly for the Chargers to win. Ravens 24, Chargers 20.