On one of the game’s decisive defensive plays, the Baltimore Ravens had 670 pounds of defensive linemen dropping into coverage and a 190-pound slot cornerback blitzing a 236-pound quarterback.
How do you close out another game that you have no business losing, but you’re again flirting with doing exactly that? How do you reverse a trend of troubling late-game collapses, all while strengthening your position atop the conference and AFC North heading into a much-needed bye week?
If you’re Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, you stay true to what and who you are.
All season, the Ravens have maintained one of the league’s best defenses by relying on selflessness, depth and deceit. Nobody is exempt from dropping in coverage or setting a pick to free up a teammate. Everybody will get an opportunity to take a free run at the quarterback. It’s up to the opposing offense to figure it out.
A seemingly comfortable 10-point lead over the Los Angeles Chargers was down to three, and a “here we go again” vibe was gaining traction with anyone who has followed the Ravens closely this season. A few of the defensive players even acknowledged that they felt it. It was the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cleveland games all over again — or was it?
“The chips weren’t falling our way at that point,” said Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton. “Roquan (Smith) or somebody said it, ‘If they don’t score, they don’t win.’ So, it’s on us at the end of the day.”
The Chargers and star quarterback Justin Herbert moved into Baltimore territory, where they faced a fourth-and-6 with under two minutes to play. Macdonald’s defense showed a blitz pre-snap. That was hardly surprising with the Chargers a little more than a first down away from having, at the very least, a shot at a game-tying field goal.
When Herbert received the snap, nickel corner Arthur Maulet blitzed from the slot, forcing Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater into a decision. Does he block outside linebacker Odafe Oweh or try to cut off Maulet? He chose Oweh. Chargers right guard Jamaree Salyer had nobody to block, because both Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce and defensive tackle Broderick Washington dropped to take away passing lanes.
It proved to be the right call at the right time. An untouched Maulet slammed into Herbert, forcing him to throw the ball wildly to nobody in particular. The ball bounced off the turf and Herbert was flagged for intentional grounding, setting off a celebration on Baltimore’s sideline.
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