Ravens topple Chargers in Harbaugh brothers’ reunion

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh remained undefeated in the NFL’s historic sibling rivalry, defeating his brother Jim’s Los Angeles Chargers 30-23. With some bold calls and another dominant effort from quarterback Lamar Jackson on Monday night, he kept the upper hand over Jim.

John Harbaugh improved to 3-0 over his younger brother, thanks in part to Baltimore going 3 of 3 on fourth down conversions – all extended drives that resulted in touchdowns. This was the first time since Super Bowl XLVII 11 years ago that John and Jim faced off as opposing head coaches.

Jackson scored a total of three points, ran for a touchdown and threw touchdown passes of 40 and 6 yards. In nine “Monday Night Football” games, Jackson has recorded 22 touchdown passes and no interceptions – the most consecutive touchdown passes without an interception in “Monday Night Football” history.

The Ravens (8:4) moved within half a game of the Pittsburgh Steelers (8:3) and secured first place in the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

Promising trend: Running back Derrick Henry continues to show that Baltimore has success when it passes the ball to him. The Ravens are now 9-1 when Henry scores 15 or more runs. Henry gained 140 yards on 24 carries, becoming the second player to gain over 100 yards rushing against the Chargers. However, this was the first time in 12 games that Henry failed to reach the end zone. He narrowly missed tying Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerry Rice and John Riggins for the third-longest single-season touchdown streak in NFL history.

Amazing statistics: The Ravens took a big gamble with 2:00 left in the first half when tight end Mark Andrews took a direct snap and pushed forward for a fourth-and-1 at the Baltimore 16-yard line transform. According to ESPN Research, no team has converted a fourth down so deep in their own territory in the first half since the Rams did so on a fake punt in 2012. Four plays later, Jackson went deep and connected with Rashod Bateman for a 40-yard touchdown that gave the Ravens their first lead at 14-10. The 2012 Rams made this conversion against Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers.

Describe the game in two words: Never panic. Trailing 10-0 early in the second quarter, Jackson led Baltimore to points on five straight drives, reaching the end zone four times. This came against a Chargers defense that ranked No. 1 in fewest points allowed (14.5) and had not allowed a team to score 30 points this season. The Ravens’ four wins after trailing by 10 this season are the most for a team in a full season since 2000. –Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday)

Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

When the Chargers got off to a 7-3 start this season, their inexperienced receiver tended to fall behind. Bad-tempered first-round rookie receiver Quentin Johnston seemed to have found his footing, leading the team with six touchdowns. Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey became Justin Herbert’s top target and one of the best rookies in the league. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer was a consistent safety valve for Herbert, making big catches on key downs.

But on Monday night that changed. With the Chargers down seven yards and on their own 34-yard line, Herbert found a wide-open Johnston running down the field, but Johnston dropped the ball.

On the next drive, Ravens running back Justice Hill scored a 51-yard touchdown, effectively ending the game. It was an ending that the Chargers were used to last season, but one that wasn’t present in the first 10 games of this season.

Worrying trend: The Chargers continued to struggle to score in the second half. Entering Monday night, they averaged 8.2 points per game in the second half, third-lowest in the NFL. Those struggles continued as the Ravens outscored them 16-3 in the second half before a late score from running back Gus Edwards with 46 seconds left. “It’s just something we’re tracking,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said of the second-half woes.

Hole in the game plan: Stop the run. The Chargers allowed 212 rushing yards, the most they had allowed in a game this season. It was the first time in Jim Harbaugh’s career as an NFL head coach that his team allowed 200 rushing yards in a game.

Forecast for next week: Edwards has his first 100-yard rushing game. Running back JK Dobbins has been the star of the Chargers’ backfield this season, but left Monday’s game with a left knee injury. If Dobbins misses time, that sets up Edwards to have the bulk of the Chargers runs against the Atlanta Falcons and have his best game of the season. – Kris Rhim

Next game: at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday)