ExtremeRavens Posted November 26 Posted November 26 John Harbaugh treated Monday night not like a coach in a consequential NFL game that could alter the course of the season, but like an older brother pinning his younger sibling into the shag carpet. Even if Harbaugh won’t admit familial influence in Baltimore’s 30-23 win over the Jim Harbaugh-coached Los Angeles Chargers, his players certainly felt it with the Ravens converting three fourth-down attempts and lining up for a borderline-greedy 2-point try. “For me, being a big brother, it’s like, ‘I can’t lose to my little brother,’” quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “That’s what I believe, going into that game, he was thinking [of] a lot.” The elder Harbaugh has long been one of the league’s most aggressive coaches, but not so much recently. The Athletic’s Ben Baldwin runs a program that tracks this sort of thing. From the start of the 2023 regular season heading into Monday night, Baltimore ranked 31st out of 32 teams in how often teams go for it when they should. The Ravens’ veteran coach tossed that playbook out the window for the sake of family bragging rights. On the first play after the two-minute warning in the first half, Harbaugh sent his offense back out to the field for a fourth-and-1 pinned back at their own 16-yard line. Common sense might say punt. Analytics suggest go for it. Harbaugh, perhaps uncharacteristically, told ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters, “No guts, no glory, right?” It’s been 12 years since an NFL team converted a first-half fourth-down that deep in their own territory. In 2012, the St. Louis Rams did it on a fake punt. On Monday, Jackson was ready to come off the field for a third punt in four possessions. Then Harbaugh told him, “It’s very short. We can convert.” Tight end Mark Andrews took a snap under center and got past the first-down marker with a push from running back Derrick Henry. That was the same play call that resulted in an offsides penalty against Charlie Kolar in Cleveland last month. This time, Andrews converted, and five plays later Jackson flung a picturesque 40-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman, a turning point in the win. “The overriding thing was who we were playing, and the idea that you just gotta try to hang on to possessions as long as you can, because they’re so good,” Harbaugh said. Safety Kyle Hamilton told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt that the defense was joking on the sideline, “You know your job is secure when you can make calls like that.” He lauded Harbaugh’s ability to downplay the brother storyline during the week, but everyone in that locker room knows they contributed to a Thanksgiving back-and-forth. Ravens vs. Chargers, November 25, 2024 | PHOTOS “It wasn’t a huge talking point for us,” Hamilton said, “but we know deep down ‘Harbs’ wants this win. It means a little more than the other ones.” Two Ravens possessions later, the older Harbaugh flexed his muscles again — a tough decision alleviated when he’s leaning on the NFL’s best offense. “I just felt like we could get them,” he said. “You have to believe in your guys.” Baltimore stumbled to another fourth-and-1 in the second half. Henry rushed 26 yards further than he needed to keep the drive alive and 20 yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. One more fourth-and-1, and again Henry crossed the sticks, part of a 140-yard night. That pair of conversions set up a leaping touchdown catch by Andrews in the back of the end zone. The only gamble Harbaugh didn’t cash in on was his decision to go for 2 early in the fourth quarter. Rather than being satisfied with an extra point that would have put his Ravens up eight, he rolled the dice to make it a two-possession game. But Zay Flowers couldn’t haul in Jackson’s pass. Nevertheless, Harbaugh resisted conservative playcalling. His team’s 3-for-3 execution on fourth down directly set up 14 points — the difference on the scoreboard until a Los Angeles touchdown in the game’s final minute. Monday night was the ninth time under Harbaugh the Ravens converted a trio of fourth downs in a single game. It was the first since Dec. 4, 2022, and tied the organization’s single-game record, first set in 2004. But when brotherly bragging rights are on the line, there’s no holding back. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.