Jackson Dominates as Ravens Triumph Over 49ers
Lamar Jackson threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter as Baltimore Ravens sacked San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy four times in a 33-19 victory Monday night in Santa Clara, Calif. Baltimore (12-3) entered its conference contest as a 6 1/2-point underdog, and the visitors overcame a slow start.
Jackson decisively defeated Purdy in the quarterback matchup, considered by many to be the leading contender for the Most Valuable Player award. Jackson, who was 23-of-35, turned a four-point game into a halftime deficit with touchdowns of 6 and 9 yards to Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers within 18 seconds.
His touchdown pass to Flowers came on the first play after Patrick Queen recorded Ravensand#039; Purdy’s fourth pick and returned it 21 yards to the San Francisco 9-yard line. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker added a 24-yard field goal later in the season, his fourth of the game.
The result means Baltimore can clinch first place in the AFC North and the conference with a home win against the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins. Purdy went 18-of-32 for 255 yards before leaving for a fourth-quarter touchdown drive with a dagger around his neck.
Sam Darnold replaced him and ended the drive with a 12-yard catch to Ronnie Bell, but then threw the team’s fifth interception of the night. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 103 yards and 14 carries, but it wasn’t enough to keep San Francisco from falling 11-4.
But the 49ers can still claim the top seed in the NFC playoffs if they beat the Washington Commander and Los Angeles Rams in their final two games. San Francisco took a 5–0 lead in the first quarter when Jackson was flagged for an intentional grounder in the end zone and Jake Moody followed with a 45-yard field goal. The Ravens answered with a three-and-out by Tucker and a 1-yard touchdown run by Gus Edwards to give them a 16–12 halftime lead.
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