SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 30, 2014
Chargers 34, Ravens 33: San Diego rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit, completing the stunning comeback against host Baltimore with Philip Rivers' 1-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal with 38 seconds remaining.
In a matchup of AFC playoff contenders, the Chargers (8-4) scored three touchdowns in the final period, including the winning score that punctuated a drive on which Rivers got the ball at his own 20 with 2:22 left and no timeouts. Rivers completed passes of 12 yards to Keenan Allen and 10 to Royal before a 23-yard pass interference penalty put the ball at the 1, setting up a quick screen to Royal.
Joe Flacco hit Kamar Aiken for a 24-yard pass to the San Diego 43 in the waning seconds, but the clock expired as Baltimore's postseason hopes took a major hit. Flacco found Torrey Smith for two touchdowns and ran for another score while Justin Forsett added 106 rushing yards for the Ravens (7-5), while Rivers passed for 383 yards and three TDs - including two to Allen (11 catches, 121 yards).
A 16-yard TD pass from Flacco to Smith and three field goals by Justin Tucker staked Baltimore to a 16-7 lead before Nick Novak converted a 52-yard kick just ahead of halftime. Novak made a 26-yarder early in the third quarter to draw San Diego within 16-13, but Flacco and Smith capped a 10-play drive with a 10-yard scoring hookup to restore a double-digit cushion at the end of three quarters.
Ryan Mathews ran in untouched from 14 yards out with 13:12 remaining to bring the Chargers within 23-20, but the Ravens answered with Flacco's 1-yard plunge on third-and-goal before San Diego came right back with Rivers' 23-yard TD pass to Allen with 3:40 left. Jacoby Jones then uncorked a 72-yard kickoff return to set up Tucker's fourth field goal that made it 33-27 with 2:22 to play, setting up the wild finish.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Flacco was 19-of-31 for 225 yards and played interception-free football for the third straight game. ... Mathews finished with 40 yards on 12 carries. ... Smith posted a team-high 65 yards on six receptions.