Ravens vs Chargers

[tsylvester]

Ew, wash that ugly loss against a team the Ravens should have mashed, they were who we thought they were as the saying goes.

Up next, the L A Chargers, yeah, that sounds weird to me as well. Are these the same old Chargers that find ways to lose important games? Well, the media would have us believe not, after all, they came back and beat the Bengals, currently sit at 7-3, have a plus 75 points in points allowed and pointsns scored. Oh yes and they are 5-2 in the AFC. New coach, new home in LA, new team? Maybe, then again, maybe not.

Herbert is playing well in an old system run by a familiar name, Greg Roman. Run the ball, throw behind the run off of play action, slants, seam routes, occasional deep routes.

Herbert is completing 63% of his passes, with 13 touchdowns and 1 pick. He has been sacked 23 times. He has added 182 yards on the ground with 1 score. Yes, he can run like a gazel, the Ravens need to keep disciplined rush lanes and eyes on him.

They are averaging 22 points per game while holding their opponents to 14.5 points. They are pretty equal in 3rd down success with their opponents, 38% to 32 % respectively, and on 4th down as well, 66% to 64%.

Their defense has recorded 9 picks & 34 sacks. They are allowing teams to average 4.7 yards per carry, but have given up only 3 rushing touchdowns.

Like the Ravens, they do comitt a lot of penalties, 5 per, 41 yards per game.

The Chargers have also fumbled 12 times so far, but only lost 4 of them.

Penalties, turnovers, it's what cost the Ravens a number of victories this year. The key to beating the Chargers, new or old, is to not beat your self.

So, who ya got?!

[oldno82]

Concerned about this game. The Ravens didn't do well after losing the opener to KC the following week losing to the Raiders, and I'm afraid the long plane ride, time zone change, and very disappointing loss to Pitts will linger.

Could be we come out flat and get beat by an inferior team? Up to Harbs to keep the team psyched up and focused. Does he still have the ability to do that? We will see.

[tsylvester]

Well, Lamar after the game certainly fired everyone up, so we shall see. They generally play well on Monday nights, something like 6-2, Lamar with 20-0 tds to picks. Two of those games he had 5 tds.. so we shall see..

[papasmurfbell]

I am wondering if poorer play involves colder weather.  LA will be nice so that should not be an issue.

[tsylvester]

Welp, Lamar has a 109.3 passer rating in cold weather games.

https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/ravens-weather062421#:~:text=SportsBettingDime.com thoroughly explored how,climate games among all quarterbacks

[papasmurfbell]

That’s old.  I no longer pay attn to qb rating as a stat.  There is no rhyme or reason for the numbers.  A qb has 4 incompletions and a sack but a perfect rating.  The next qb has no incompletions and no sack but is missing a few points.  

[tsylvester]

I do agree, qbr is subjective. But his td to picks ratio is real.

[papasmurfbell]

That’s real.  Let’s see how it stays if teams keep the same defensive style.

[tsylvester]

It would help if players around him did not turn the ball over. 3 turnovers and none of them his fault, though he gets "credited" with one.

I know, he missed a number of throws, but still...

[papasmurfbell]

Last Jan I saw one that was all his fault.

[oldno82]

Generally speaking he's been solid this year. I think he's become the type of QB who can win a SB especially with the cast of skill players he has right now. But the O-line is only mediocre. We sure miss having an experienced RT and RG.

The D is a work in progress and needs more talent. Pass rush, while decent, and secondary can't shut down an opposing team. Don't know for sure if coaching is a problem there or not...I tend to think it is.

[papasmurfbell]

I don’t think he can win a sb.  I have not seen him win high leverage games with any consistency.  This d plays well for a game doesn’t make it close to fixed.