Baltimore Ravens' Defense Dominates In Win vs. Chargers

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10 in a defensive battle on Sunday Night Football.

The Baltimore Ravens moved to 9-3 on the season with a 20-10 win on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. 

The win propelled the Ravens back into the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC as they sit a half-game up on the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins who are all tied at 8-3. 

Baltimore has relied heavily on its defense this season, with good reason. It has held opponents to 10 points or less five times this season, including Los Angeles. 

Read up on all things Ravens after their Sunday Night Football win. 

Best Defense In NFL?

The Chargers came into their matchup with Baltimore averaging 25.9 points per game through 11 weeks, good enough for eighth in the NFL. The Ravens defense held Los Angeles to just 10 points while forcing four turnovers in the game. Justin Herbert was sacked three times and threw an interception while the Chargers lost three fumbles. 

After the win over Los Angeles, Baltimore is now holding its opponents to 15.6 points per game, which is good for second in the NFL behind the San Francisco 49ers. 

Questionable Decision-Making

The Chargers were able to cut the Ravens lead to 13-10 in the middle of the fourth quarter with a Herbert touchdown pass to Gerald Everett. On Baltimore's ensuing possession, it drove all the way down the the Los Angeles 26-yard line before facing a 4th-and-1 with a little over three minutes left in the game. 

A field goal would would still leave room the Chargers to win with a touchdown, while a first down could have allowed the Ravens to burn more clock and possibly score a touchdown, effectively ending the game. They chose to kick the field goal, and Justin Tucker missed a 44-yard field goal, giving the ball back to Los Angeles.

Zay Flowers Keeps Making Plays

Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers has played a crucial role in Baltimore's offense this season, one that has only grown with the loss of Mark Andrews. Flowers opened the scoring for the Ravens, catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson in the back of the end zone in the second quarter.

WATCH: WR Zay Flowers Gives Ravens Lead vs. Chargers on SNF

Facing a 3rd-and-3 with 1:44 left in the game, Flowers once again stepped up, this time taking a handoff from Jackson and turning up field for a 37-yard rushing touchdown. The rookie finished the game with five catches for 25 yards and a touchdown and one carry for 37 yards and a touchdown.