Chargers-Ravens Game Recap: Derrick Henry runs through Bolts in 30-23 loss on MNF

John Harbaugh once again got the best of his younger brother as the Ravens dominated the Chargers at home in primetime.

As the Chargers have for most of the 2024 season, they started hot out of the gates only to slow down and stumble the longer the game ticks on.

After scoring the first 10 points of the contest, the Bolts were outscored 30-6 through the remaining three quarters. MVP candidate Lamar Jackson threw a pair of touchdowns and the Ravens as a teams rushed for over 200 yards. Derrick Henry racked up 140 yards on 24 carries while backup Justice Hill scored a 51-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to help put away the Bolts at home.

The only touchdown of the night for the Chargers came via a Justin Herbert scramble on the opening drive of the game. Herbert finished 21-of-36 for 218 yards and a rushing touchdown

The loss of J.K. Dobbins in the first half drastically cut their chances of playing ball control and keeping Jackson and Henry off the field. Herbert was forced to throw the team to victory and when his pass catchers began to drop the ball at a high clip in the second half, it was simply asking too much.

The Chargers will regroup and look to get right before a road trip across the country to Atlanta to face the 6-5 Falcons.

For a complete quarter-by-quarter recap of today’s game, check it out below.

First Quarter

The Ravens won the toss and chose to defer. The Chargers offense was up first.

Justin Herbert got the offense rolling immediately with a 17-yard pass to Ladd McConkey on the opening drive. Strong runs by both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards opened up the play-action pass with Herbert then hitting Will Dissly for 18 yards to get inside the Ravens 10-yard line. Two plays later, Herbert scrambled in from five yards out to put the Chargers up 7-0.

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry looked good to begin the Ravens opening drive as one rush from both led to a first down. On their third play of the drive, fullback Patrick Ricard was called for a “leg whip” — essentially an attempt at tripping and/or kicking — which cost the Ravens 15 yards. Facing a first-and-25, the Ravens couldn’t muster another a first down and were forced to punt.

The Chargers’ second drive of the game started with a sack on Herbert. Facing third-and-13, McConkey came through again with a 15-yard catch to move the chains. A holding penalty on Zion Johnson backed the Bolts up to first-and-20 but a catch-and-run by Dobbins and another short run made it a manageable third-and-five. Herbert dropped back, scanned, and scrambled to his right before firing a bullet to wideout Jalen Reagor just ahead of the sticks. Reagor did not catch the ball cleanly and a hit by rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins lodged the ball loose to force the first punt of the game for Los Angeles.

Dobbins spearheaded the opening plays of the ensuing drive with two tough runs to set up a third-and-two. The first-year Charger then sprang through a hole off right guard Trey Pipkins and burst or 17 yards to get the Bolts into Ravens territory just before time ticked off in the opening period.

Second Quarter

The Chargers faced a fourth-and-one soon after the break after Edwards was stopped short on third down. Scott Matlock went in motion from left to right and Edwards got the handoff before bursting past the chains off his fullback’s block.

Herbert and the offense could not convert on their next set of downs and Cameron Dicker came on to make it 10-0 after a short field goal.

The Ravens remembered they have Henry and started their next drive with back-to-back runs of over 10 yards. On a third-and-five in Chargers territory, Jackson scrambled to his right and lofted a pass to tight end Mark Andrews who managed to catch the ball on his right hip with just one hand.

Two plays later, Henry burst into the end zone for what looked like a score but an illegal formation penalty brought it back. The flag ended up being irrelevant as Jackson kept a read option and weaved his way for a 10-yard touchdown to minimize the Chargers lead to 10-7.

Herbert and Co. tried to respond, but a holding penalty near midfield on third-and-one stifled the drive as they were forced to punt. This time, J.K. Scott pinned the Ravens inside their 10-yard line.

Once again, the Ravens got to work behind Henry. After five yards on first down, the Chargers defense stood up, holding Henry short of the sticks on third-and-one. On the other side of the two-minute warning, the Ravens chose to roll the dice and were rewarded as Andrews converted on a tush push.

After the conversion, Jackson aired it out against a Chargers secondary that couldn’t catch a break. On third-and-two, the LA defense lost track of wideout Zay Flowers who caught a short pass and turned it into 22 yards. On the next two plays, cornerback Kristian Fulton was called for pass interference on Rashod Bateman and then was called for another holding penalty on Bateman but the Ravens receiver caught the ball through the contact and scored from 40 yards out. With 24 seconds left in the first half, the Ravens led 14-10.

Herbert and the offense managed get into field goal range thanks to some great catches by Jalen Reagor and Joshua Palmer. Dicker trotted onto the field and banged home a 52-yard kick to bring the score to 14-13 as both teams headed to the locker room.

Third Quarter

On the opening drive of the half for the Ravens, Jackson converted back-to-back third-and-longs to keep Baltimore marching down the field. On yet another third-and-long inside Chargers territory, the Bolts were finally able to get a stop which forced a Ravens field goal. Justin Tucker was good from 45 yards out and they increased their lead to 17-13.

Herbert continued to lead his team with some more insane throws. Near midfield, Herbert sensed cornerback Nate Wiggins blitzing unimpeded from the edge but he casually stepped up and fired a shot to McConkey for the first down and to get the offense into field goal range. After being stopped on third down, Dicker was good on another 52-yard field goal to keep the Chargers within one.

Henry broke off a 27-yard run on a fourth-and-one to get the Ravens quickly into Chargers territory on their ensuing drive. Just before the break, the Ravens were held once again to a fourth-and-one.

Fourth Quarter

Henry got the call to convert the latest fourth down and made this one look easy.

The Ravens got to the Chargers six-yard line facing third down several plays later. Tight end Mark Andrews beat Alohi Gilman up the seam and was able to come down with a touchdown catch over the veteran safety. The Ravens went for two and failed but still led the Chargers by a touchdown at 23-16.

Herbert and the offense waited until a rough moment in the game to record their first three-and-out on their next drive. Adding salt in the wound, Scott punted for just 37 yards to give the Ravens the ball at their 28 for their next drive.

Backup running back Justice Hill broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run which gave the Ravens a two-touchdown lead at 30-16.

Derius Davis provided a spark on the following kickoff with a 46-yard return but the Chargers would end up going three-and-out for the second consecutive drive.

After getting a needed stop on defense, the Chargers managed to score in the final minute to minimize the lead to 30-23 thanks to a one-yard dive by Gus Edwards. Dicker’s onside kick failed and the Ravens knelt out the remaining clock.

The Chargers fall to 7-4 on the season.