Ravens Cap Off Christmas Day with Upset Victory Over the Niners
The Ravens and Niners capped off an exciting day of Christmas football action with a showdown between the top seeds in the NFC and AFC. With both teams coming into the game at 11-3, the team that came out on top would inch closer to locking up the top seed in their conference and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In the end, the Ravens flexed their muscles and would run away with the upset 33-19 victory over the 49ers on Christmas night. The victory for Baltimore allows them to clinch the one seed in the AFC with a victory over the Dolphins next week at home. Let’s take a look at how the Ravens were able to leave Santa Clara victorious over the Niners.
San Francisco would get on the board first after Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson was flagged for an intentional grounding on their second drive of the game in the end zone, which resulted in a safety to give San Francisco a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. The Niners would extend their lead to 5-0 on their subsequent drive following a 45-yard field goal by kicker Jake Moody. The Ravens would get back on track on their next drive with a 28-yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker with one minute left in the quarter to cut the deficit to 5-3. The Ravens’ defense would give their offense the ball back following 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy’s second interception of the game. The Ravens would capitalize on the turnover converting on a 4th and goal for a one-yard touchdown run by running back Gus Edwards to take a 10-5 lead in the second quarter.
The Ravens’ defense would intercept Purdy for a third time in the game to give their offense the ball at the Niners’ 20-yard line. The Ravens would go three and out and extend their lead to 13-5 on a 41-yard field goal by Tucker. The Niners would respond on their next drive with a nine-yard touchdown run by star running back Christian McCaffrey to cut their deficit to 13-12 with three minutes left in the half. Before halftime, the Ravens would extend their lead to 16-12 following a 28-yard field goal by Tucker to close out the first half. Coming out of halftime, the Ravens would extend their lead to 23-12 following a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nelson Agholor.
On the Niners’ second possession of the second half, Purdy would be intercepted for the fourth time by linebacker Patrick Queen to set the Ravens’ offense up with excellent field position in 49ers’ territory. The lead would quickly be extended by Baltimore to 30-12 on the first play following the turnover on a nine-yard pass to wide receiver Zay Flowers. The Ravens would extend their lead to 33-12 following a chip shot 24-yard field goal by Tucker with two minutes left in the third quarter. The Niners would aim to make the game respectable following Purdy being replaced by Sam Darnold due to injury and would cut their deficit to 33-19 on a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ronnie Bell with six minutes left in the game. The Ravens’ defense would seal the victory for Baltimore with their fifth interception of the game on safety Marcus Williams’ interception with a minute left in the contest.
During the victory, Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson would finish the game going 23 for 35, with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns. It was a productive game for rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers, who had nine receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown catch. In the loss, Purdy would leave the game in the fourth quarter due to injury having finished 18 for 32, with 255 passing yards and an uncharacteristic four interceptions. The Niners would get major production from McCaffrey who had 14 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. As well, tight end George Kittle and wideout Brandon Aiyuk would both finish the game with over 100 + receiving yards in the game.
