The Los Angeles Chargers lost 30-23 to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night after a strong start. Despite early promise, the Chargers’ offense stalled in the second half, sealing their fate.
The Ravens, led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, started with a 10-point lead, but their failure to consistently gain an advantage in the red zone proved costly. Meanwhile, the Ravens dominated by converting key opportunities into touchdowns.
Harbaugh said after the game, “We would have loved to have more points. We just needed a few more conversions.” The loss dropped the Chargers’ record to 7-4.
The disparity in the second-half performance was evident. The Ravens outgained the Chargers by 130 yards, gaining 217 yards to L.A.’s 83 yards. Most of the Chargers’ production came during late-game touchdown drives while trailing by 14. A costly three-and-out in the fourth quarter exacerbated their struggles.
Quarterback Justin Herbert acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. “I appreciate the way the guys battled and fought at the end. It’s an unfortunate ending. We wanted to score more points and couldn’t,” Herbert said. He emphasized the importance of improving red-zone efficiency and third-down conversions.
The Chargers were further hampered by the absence of running back J.K. Dobbins in the second half because of a knee injury. Without its dynamic playmaker, the offense became one-dimensional, with Herbert completing 21 of 36 passes for 218 yards and suffering four sacks. Drops and an inefficient passing attack also hampered their momentum.
L.A. scored on its only two red-zone trips, but its inability to sustain drives between those scores was evident. The team went 5-14 on third downs, leaving points on the field. Herbert expressed frustration, saying, “It’s obviously a tough game, and we would love to score more points. We just have to keep executing and playing our best. We can’t rely on [kicker] Cameron Dicker to save us in a situation like this.” The loss highlights a troubling pattern for the Chargers in 2024. They are now 1-4 against teams with a .500 or better record, but remain undefeated (6-0) against sub-.500 teams. With three of their remaining six games against winning teams, the Chargers must overcome their inconsistencies to keep their playoff hopes alive. As the season progresses, L.A.’s ability to execute in key moments will determine whether they can rise to the challenge or fall behind against tough competition.