It’s been a few years now, but we’ve decided to bring it back, Griffin got sick of Glenn mentioning this segment “that we used to do” so the guys revived it entirely. On Tuesdays following Sunday’s game, we will sit down and map out the Five Plays That Told The Story Of Sunday’s Game.
It’s as simple as it sounds, if the Ravens lose, we’ll pick the five plays that we perceived embodied the loss, not all necessarily scoring plays, sometimes no scoring plays. And of course on the inverse, when the Ravens win, the five plays that most embodied the win.
Of course the Ravens played on Monday night this week so we shift everything to Wednesday. And on Monday night the Ravens won the third edition of the “Harbaugh Bowl” as they took down the Chargers 30-23, Griffin and Glenn will both count down in sequential order of the five plays they believed to tell the story of Monday’s game.
Glenn’s Five Plays That Told The Story of Monday’s Game:
5. 1st & 10 at BAL 30 (11:26 – 2nd) D. Henry right tackle to BLT 49 for 19 yards (N. Niemann; T. Tuipulotu)
This is more about narratives. I think the two biggest “stories” of Monday night were the 4th down conversions (foreshadowing!) and sticking with the run even when they fell behind my multiple scores. With that in mind, this was the first play they ran after they went down by 10. They got ahead of the sticks, which helped them stick to the run. I think it was massive in the narrative of the game.
4. 4th & 1 at LAC 25 (15:00 – 4th) D. Henry up the middle to LAC 23 for 2 yards (N. Niemann)
The last of the three 4th down conversions, they eschewed a field goal here that would have it a two score game. Yes, it felt like after the first two decisions they HAD to do it but they still had to convert as well.
3. 4th & 1 at BAL 39 (2:38 – 3rd) D. Henry left guard to LAC 34 for 27 yards (D. Henley; T. Still)
While not as bold as the other, going for it from your own 39 is still bold-particularly in a one score game in the second half. Not only did they get it, it ends up being a huge chunk play.
2. 1st & 10 at LAC 40 (0:24 – 2nd) (Shotgun) L. Jackson pass deep left to R. Bateman for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on LAC-K. Fulton, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. J. Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-N. Moore, Holder-J. Stout
By this point, you realize what my #1 play is going to be. But it’s worth pointing out that with 24 seconds left in the half, a touchdown is arguably still unlikely at this point. This was a huge play to consolidate the boldness of the original decision.
1. 4th & 1 at BAL 16 (2:00 – 2nd) Direct snap to M. Andrews. M. Andrews up the middle to BLT 18 for 2 yards (N. Niemann; D. Henley)
Like there was another option.
Griffin’s Five Plays That Told The Story of Monday’s Game:
5. 4th & 1 at LAC 25 (15:00 – 4th) D.Henry up the middle to LAC 23 for 2 yards (N.Niemann).
Fourth down conversions were the name of the game. This was the last one they needed to get, just Derrick Henry out football-ing everyone else.
4. 2nd & 10 at BAL 40 (7:05 – 4th) (Shotgun) J.Herbert sacked at BLT 48 for -8 yards (K.Van Noy). FUMBLES (K.Van Noy) [K.Van Noy], and recovers at BLT 48.Penalty on LAC-R.Slater, Offensive Holding, declined.
The defense didn’t have any massive momentum changing play, so I’ll go with the Kyle Van Noy’s sack that forced a 3rd and 18 and an eventual Chargers punt while down two scores in the fourth quarter. The last stop the defense needed to get.
3. 3rd & Goal at LAC 6 (12:32 – 4th) (Shotgun) L.Jackson pass short middle to M.Andrews for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
On top of the fourth down conversions, the third down conversions were almost just as big a story of the game. The Ravens were very good on third down, 8-for-15. This place was one my favorites, seeing Mark Andrews come back to being an indefensible threat on third downs and in the Redzone, he checks both those boxes here. And on in a one-point game in the fourth quarter. Huge.
2. 3rd & 1 at BAL 37 (9:24 – 4th) D.Henry left end ran ob at BLT 42 for 5 yards (T.Still).
The stiff arm(s). They were going to for it anyway, but just the sheer impressiveness of this play, shoving not one but two Chargers to the ground, letting them know that they just cannot play with the Ravens. Backed up by two player Justice Hill putting the game on ice with his 50-yard TD run.
1. 4th & 1 at BAL 16 (2:00 – 2nd) Direct snap to M.Andrews. M.Andrews up the middle to BLT 18 for 2 yards (N.Niemann; D.Henley).
So glad they went for it, wanted them to go for it from the second they got stopped short on third down. Felt like there was nothing they couldn’t do after this.
There you have it, our five plays telling the story of the Monday Night Football win over the Chargers. You can listen as Glenn and Griffin break it down by clicking play below:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
