The Ravens got everything they wanted for Christmas. The 49ers got more than they could handle.
Who’s the best team in the NFL? The Ravens made their strongest statement of the season with an impressive victory over the 49ers, 33-19, at Levi’s Stadium in a much-anticipated matchup on “Monday Night Football.”
Baltimore stands alone as the team with the best record in the league at 12-3, while the 49ers (11-4) were forced to eat some humble pie for the holidays. Here are my thoughts on the Ravens taking San Francisco by storm:
The Ravens relish the underdog role and they felt disrespected entering this game by some national pundits who predicted the 49ers would win easily. Baltimore was motivated coming into this game, and took its frustrations out on its opponent.
“Everybody wrote us off before we had a chance to play,” inside linebacker Patrick Queen said. “Everybody counted us out. Everybody was saying we were going to get blown out by double digits.”
Queen gave the breakdown speech before the game with the team huddled around him and delivered a message.
“We worked too hard for people to be writing us off,” Queen said. “You feel a certain kind of way when people write you off. My message was to take what we want.”
The 49ers got the message, as the Ravens rolled to victory with a defense that feasted on turnovers, and a quarterback in Lamar Jackson who played like the ultimate weapon (23-of-35, 252 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 45 yards rushing).
Nobody plays quarterback quite like Jackson, and nobody is more deserving of winning the MVP than Jackson.
“I thought Lamar had an MVP-type performance,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
Nobody plays quarterback quite like Jackson, and nobody is more deserving of winning the MVP than Jackson.
“I thought Lamar had an MVP-type performance,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
Jackson also made a ridiculous escape from the pocket, ducking under 49ers edge rusher Chase Young for his longest scramble of the season (30 yards). While he isn’t turning up-field to run with the frequency that he used to, he’s still one of the NFL’s most dangerous players in the open field.This version of Jackson is more experienced and more precise than 2019 version, and which gives opponents even more to worry about as the Ravens approach the postseason.Nick Bosa had some really interesting insight. He said Lamar Jackson changed up his tendencies from earlier this season for this game. Jackson had been waiting more in the pocket, but he reverted to hunting for escape hatches today. Bosa noted the midstream shift was “very…
How many people expected the Ravens to have five interceptions, including four against Brock Purdy? If Purdy wins the Most Valuable Player award after this game, ballots need to be checked.
Kyle Hamilton had two picks and there’s no denying that he has become a star player. In the first quarter, the second-year safety made a perfect read as Deebo Samuel ran a crossing pattern near the end zone. As soon as Purdy threw the ball, a pass that was intended for Samuel became a throw that was destined to be picked off by Hamilton.
