Chargers vs. Ravens: Complete Week 13 Preview for Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens look to continue their push for the postseason when they host the San Diego Chargers in Week 13. Both teams enter this game at 7-4 along with three other teams that are fighting for two wild-card spots.
As of now, the 7-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Chargers and Ravens are tied for the No. 5 and 6 seeds in the AFC.
Needless to say, a lot has yet to be decided in terms of who will make it to the playoffs, but Baltimore has the advantage of controlling its own destiny.
The Ravens host the Chargers this week, as well as the Cleveland Browns in their home finale. If they can win out, they'll have beaten the Browns and Chargers in the process to jump ahead of them.
The Steelers and Chiefs face each other in Week 16, which means one of them is assured to lose at least one more time. That means as long as Baltimore wins out, it's guaranteed to make the playoffs.
That's asking a lot, given the Ravens would have to win their final five games to guarantee a playoff spot. That said, not many teams at this point can control their own destiny in terms of making the playoffs.
The Ravens are one of those lucky few, but for now, they must put all of their focus on San Diego. Here is my preview for this Week 13 matchup.
Week 12 Recap
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The Ravens were in New Orleans to face the Saints in a Week 12 showdown between two playoff contenders on Monday Night Football.
Both squads came into Week 12 within one game of a spot in the playoffs. The 4-6 Saints needed a win to remain in first place in the NFC South. Baltimore had to win to tie a host of 7-4 teams for one of the two wild-card spots in the AFC.
It looked like the Saints were going to score on the game's opening drive after they got down to the 1-yard line. However, Baltimore stuffed three straight runs. When New Orleans then went for it on fourth down with a Mark Ingram run, Haloti Ngata stuffed it for a no gain, forcing a turnover on downs.
On the ensuing play, running back Justin Forsett burst through the line for a 38-yard gain. The Ravens would continue to march down the field before Joe Flacco hit Steve Smith for a 15-yard score to put Baltimore up 7-0.
The Saints would eventually respond with a long drive that ended with Drew Brees hitting Jimmy Graham for a one-yard score to tie the game at 7-7.
The Ravens would respond in the second quarter after driving down the field before Forsett ran 13 yards for a touchdown. That put Baltimore up 14-7.
The Saints would score the final 10 points of the half, highlighted by Brees hitting Marques Colston for a 26-yard touchdown. That gave New Orleans a 17-14 lead at halftime.
After Baltimore got a field goal on the opening drive to tie the game, safety Will Hill picked off a Brees pass and took it to the house for six. That gave the Ravens a 24-17 lead, and they would never give up that lead en route to a 34-27 win.
Injury Report
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Name | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Campanaro, Michael | WR | Thigh | - |
McPhee, Pernell | OLB | Shoulder | - |
Reid, Jah | T | Hand | - |
Suggs, Terrell | OLB | Foot | - |
The Ravens are pretty healthy coming into Week 13. Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs got the day off Wednesday to rest his foot before returning for a full practice on Thursday.
Rookie receiver Michael Campanaro continues to battle a thigh issue that's limiting him in practice. He has missed the previous two games with the injury.
Linebacker Pernell McPhee is battling a shoulder injury that limited him on Wednesday and Thursday.
Matchups and X-Factor to Watch
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OLBs Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil vs. OTs D.J. Fluker and King Dunlap
The Ravens outside linebackers thrive at pressuring quarterbacks, and they'll look to do the same against the Chargers this week. Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil form the best OLB duo on football, and that was evident in Baltimore's Week 12 in at New Orleans.
In that game, Suggs and Dumervil combined for three sacks, three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. They'll be going against Chargers offensive tackles King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Fluker and Dunlap have allowed a combined eight sacks and 50 QB hurries. They've not been terrible but not great either. This is an area the Ravens can expose with their prolific pass-rushers to control this game.
X-Factor: OC Chris Watt
The Chargers recently lost center Rich Ohrnberger to season-ending injured reserve with a back injury. Ohrnberger is the third starting center San Diego has lost this year. Against the Rams in Week 12, rookie Chris Watt got his first career start and played decently.
However, he'll be going against a Ravens defense that is far superior. Baltimore's front seven has helped the team rank fifth in run defense. Per Pro Football Focus, Watt received a minus-1.7 grade versus the Rams, which isn't too bad for a rookie in his first NFL start.
This rookie center's performance in just his second career start will have a big impact on how well San Diego's offense does against Baltimore.
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Prediction
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The Ravens are hitting their stride at the best possible time. After going into New Orleans and coming out with a convincing win, Baltimore isn't about to let up at home.
The Ravens will come into this game focused and determined to defend their turf while also damaging an opposing playoff contender's postseason hopes.
San Diego is right there with Baltimore for a playoff spot, just as both teams were last year. In 2013, both of these franchises entered Week 13 at 5-6 and in the thick of a tight playoff race.
As it turned out, Baltimore would finish the year 8-8 and one game away from making the playoffs. The Chargers finished 9-7 and were the last team to make it to the playoffs in the AFC.
Baltimore isn't about to let history repeat itself. The Ravens run the ball well and win the time-of-possession battle while playing a clean, turnover-free game.
The defense suffocates the Chargers offense by pressuring Philip Rivers all game long while never allowing San Diego to find any rhythm. San Diego puts up a fight, but Baltimore puts the Chargers away in the fourth quarter to pick up the win.
Ravens win, 27-17
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