Ravens romp past 49ers behind five interceptions

Field Level Media|published: Mon 25th December, 23:47 2023

Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles with the football against San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown (27) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. credits: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson threw for 252 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns while the Baltimore Ravens intercepted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy four times in a 33-19 win Monday night in Santa Clara, Calif.

Baltimore (12-3) entered as a 6 1/2-point underdog in a matchup of the top teams in their conferences, and the visitors overcame a slow start. Jackson decisively outplayed Purdy in a matchup of the quarterbacks considered by many to be the top candidates for Most Valuable Player.

Jackson, who completed 23 of 35 passes, turned a four-point game at the half into a rout with scoring strikes of 6 and 9 yards to Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers, respectively, in an 18-second span early in the third. His touchdown pass to Flowers came on the first play after Patrick Queen logged the Ravens' fourth pick of Purdy and returned it 21 yards to the San Francisco 9-yard line.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker added a 24-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, later in the period.

The result means Baltimore can clinch the AFC North and the top seed in the conference Sunday with a home win over the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins.

Purdy hit on 18 of 32 attempts for 255 yards before leaving during a fourth-quarter touchdown drive with a stinger in his neck. Sam Darnold replaced him and finished the drive with a 12-yard strike to Ronnie Bell but later tossed the team's fifth interception of the night.

Christian McCaffrey rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, but it wasn't enough to prevent San Francisco from falling to 11-4. But the 49ers can still claim the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs by beating the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Rams in their last two games.

San Francisco took a 5-0 first-quarter lead when Jackson was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone and Jake Moody subsequently kicked a 45-yard field goal.

The Ravens responded with three field goals by Tucker and a 1-yard touchdown run by Gus Edwards, enabling them to take a 16-12 advantage into halftime.

—Field Level Media