Ravens Soar, Conquer 49ers 33-19 on Jackson’s Brilliance

Ravens Soar, Conquer 49ers 33-19 on Jackson’s Brilliance

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes in an 18-second span in the third quarter and the Baltimore Ravens intercepted Brock Purdy four times in a 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

 

Jackson and the Ravens (12-3) turned a highly anticipated matchup between two of the NFL’s best teams into a lopsided victory with strong performances from both sides. Kyle Hamilton and the defense set the tone early, picking off Purdy (11-4) on three of the 49ers’ first four possessions before Jackson took over. He raced 30 yards for a field goal on the final play of the first half to give the Ravens a 16-12 lead, then helped put the game away early in the third quarter.

 

After Baltimore forced a punt on the opening drive of the second half, Jackson decided to drive, throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor. Patrick Queen intercepted Purdy from scrimmage on the next play. Jackson immediately turned it into another score with a 9-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers to make it 30-12. Jackson threw for 252 yards, ran for 45 more and leapfrogged Purdy as the MVP favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. His only real setback came when he was called for intentional grounding in the end zone after nearly tripping over a referee that led to a safety in the first quarter. Purdy had his toughest game as a pro, becoming the first 49ers quarterback to throw four interceptions in a game since Colin Kaepernick in 2015.

He added some close calls and didn’t make the big plays that made him the league’s most effective quarterback. to the game Purdy went 18 and 32 for 255 yards before being replaced by Sam Darnold after suffering a concussion in the fourth quarter. San Francisco’s other MVP candidate fared much better in running back Christian McCaffrey, who ran for 102 yards and a TD and added 28 yards.

 

He set a franchise record for the eighth consecutive game with at least 100 yards. That marquee matchup marked the second time that exclusively the top-ranked teams in each conference played in Week 16 or later. Both teams continue at the top of their respective conferences.

 

The Niners are in a three-way tie with Philadelphia and Detroit for the best record in the NFC and can still clinch first place and the first round by winning their last two games. The Ravens moved one game ahead of Miami for the best record in the AFC and could clinch first place next week with a win over the Dolphins.

INJURIES

Ravens: Hamilton (knee) left the game in the fourth quarter and did not return. … G Kevin Zeitler (trip) and RT Patrick Mekari (head injury) also left in the second half. 49ers: LT Trent Williams (groin) left the game in the third quarter. … T Jaylon Moore (concussion) and LG Aaron Banks (toe) also left with injuries in the second half.