Chargers vs. Ravens: 4 Key First-Half Stats for San Diego

In a virtually must-win game for the Chargers, San Diego has played up to its competition, leading the Ravens 17-7 heading into halftime. With a first half full of excitement, there are several statistics that help tell the story of San Diego's brilliance. 

58: Yards on Longest Reception

In the longest play of the game, Vincent Jackson took a deep ball from Phillip Rivers and stretched it into a 58-yard reception. The play helped set up a touchdown in the waning moments of the first half to give San Diego a nice cushion heading into the locker room. 

7:04: Time of Possession on First Drive

San Diego grabbed hold of the game’s momentum on their opening drive, executing to perfection on a 12-play sequence. Though the touchdown was scored on the ground, Phillip Rivers really set the tone with six completions in seven tries. If the Chargers offense can continue staying on the field for such long stretches, their defense will have a much better chance at limiting Ray Rice. 

2/3: Third-Down Efficiency

The Ravens have the best third-down defense in the league, but the Chargers have managed to come through in pressure situations. Instead of getting discouraged after a pair of red-zone stuffs, San Diego stood by its ground game and put up the game’s first points on a Mike Tolbert touchdown run.

Six: Receivers With a Reception    

A big reason for the recent emergence of Phillip Rivers has been his ability to hit all of his receivers. Tonight, Rivers has spread the ball around without bias and San Diego’s offense has reaped the benefits.