49ers vs. Ravens Week 16 Live Blog
SANTA CLARA -- Merry Christmas. This is the live blog for the 49ers' Week 16 home game against the Baltimore Ravens. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
3:50 Here are the 49ers' inactives: Arik Armstead, Jauan Jennings, Ross Dwelley, Oren Burks, Samuel Womack Jr., Elijah Mitchell and Brandon Allen.
That means Javon Hargave is active -- no surprise there. He practiced two days this week, so it was clear he was going to play despite the 49ers listing him as questionable.
Here's what's interesting: The 49ers activated veteran cornerback Jason Verrett from the practice squad today, and he'll be active for tonight's game, unlike second-year cornerback Samuel Womack. Apparently, it took Jason Verrett just a couple weeks to pass Womack on the 49ers depth chart. Now it will be interesting to see if he actually plays in this game. Backup cornerbacks typically play special teams, and I highly doubt the 49ers would want Verrett to play special teams -- he's too old and injury prone for that. So if he's active, perhaps the 49ers actually plan on playing him. Maybe he'll replace Ambry Thomas as the No. 3 cornerback in the nickel defense, either at the beginning of the game or midway through it if Thomas gets benched. Because if the Ravens did their homework, they're going to target Thomas as much as possible. Remember, when the Ravens faced the 49ers in the Super Bowl, they targeted 49ers No. 3 cornerback Chris Culliver mercilessly and that's a big reason the Ravens won.
4:18 I'm picking the Ravens to win 24-20. I believe both teams will run the ball well, but I think the Ravens will run it better because the 49ers won't have Arik Armstead to plug the middle.
4:43 Based on warmups, Verrett appears to be starting. Keep in mind, Deommodore Lenoir injured his rib last week.
5:13 The 49ers win the toss and defer. The Ravens will get the ball first.
FIRST QUARTER
5:18 Ambry Thomas is starting and Deommodore Lenoir is in the slot. On 3rd and 8 from the Ravens 33, Lamar Jackson sails a pass over Nelson Agholor's head, and the Ravens go 3 and out. Thomas broke up a pass on 2nd and 8. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 11.
5:24 On 1st and 10 from the Ravens 15, Brock Purdy telegraphs a pass to Deebo Samuel and gets intercepted by Kyle Hamilton, who read Purdy's eyes. Easy pick. Purdy just took points off the board. The Ravens take over at their 8.
5:29 On 1st and 10 from the Ravens 20, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Chase Young chase Lamar Jackson into the end zone, and he flips the ball before he gets sacked, but the ball doesn't get back to the line of scrimmage, so it's a safety. Great start for the 49ers defense. They're making Jackson play quarterback in the pocket and he's failing.
49ers 2, Ravens 0.
5:39 On 3rd and 9 from the Ravens 27, Purdy throws a one-hopper to Christian McCaffrey in the left flat. Next play, Jake Moody makes a 45-yard field goal.
49ers 5, Ravens 0.
5:50 On 3rd and 8 from the 49ers 12, the 49ers blitz, Jackson throws a quick pass to Nelson Agholor, and Ambry Thomas tackles him immediately after a gain of just two yards. Then Ravens kicker Justin Tucker makes a 28-yard field goal.
49ers 5, Ravens 3.
SECOND QUARTER
6:00 On 1st and 10 from the Ravens 37, Brandon Stephen tips a screen pass to Marlon Humphrey who picks it off at the Ravens 47.
6:08 On 4th and goal from the 1, Gus Edwards falls into the end zone for the touchdown. The 49ers defense is playing well enough -- they just need Purdy to settle down. And the best way to help him settle down is to run the freaking ball. Take the game out of his hands.
49ers 5, Ravens 10.
6:15 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 30, Brock Purdy scrambles to his right, forces a pass into traffic, it gets tipped and picked off by Marlon Humphrey. That's three picks in a quarter and a half for Purdy. I guess he can forget about that MVP Award. The Ravens take over at the 49ers 20.
6:19 On 3rd and 13 from the 49ers 23, Lamar Jackson throws a pass over Zay Flowers' head. Next play, Justin Tucker makes a 41-yard field goal. The 49ers defense has played so well. The Ravens scored just 8 points off Purdy's three picks.
6:29 On 2nd and 8 from the Ravens 48, McCaffrey runs left between the tackles for 39 yards. Next play on first and goal from the 9, McCaffrey runs left between the tackles and scores a touchdown. Not sure what took Kyle Shanahan so long to call runs to the left, but he got there.
49ers 12, Ravens 13.
6:46 On 3rd and 16 from the 49ers 41, Chase Young runs past Lamar Jackson in the pocket and allows him to scramble for 31 yards. Two plays later, Tucker makes a 28-yard field goal attempt as the first half ends. The 49ers will get the ball to start the second half. I expect Shanahan to call lots of runs.
49ers 12, Ravens 16.
THIRD QUARTER
7:05 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 30, Purdy throws a pass that nearly gets intercepted by Ronald Darby, and the 49ers go three and out. Terrible pass by Purdy who is having a terrible game. After a punt and late hit out of bounds by Mitch Wishnowsky, the Ravens take over at the 49ers 44.
7:11 First play of the drive, Jackson scrambles to his right, throws back to his left and hits his running back, Gus Edward, who runs for 39 yards. Two plays later, Jackson scrambles to his left and throws a touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor, who beat Jason Verrett. Jackson is borderline impossible to defend once he gets outside the pocket. And now the 49ers are down by two scores. Let's see what Kyle Shanahan does.
49ers 12, Ravens 23.
7:17 First play of the drive, Purdy throws a pick to linebacker Patrick Queen, who runs the ball down to the 49ers 9-yard line.
7:19 First play of the drive, Jackson throws a touchdown pass to a wide open Zay Flowers. The 49ers are stunned.
49ers 12, Ravens 30.
7:24 Trent Williams has a groin injury and is questionable to return.
7:25 On 3rd and 6 from the 49ers 40, Deebo Samuel drops a pass while running a shallow cross. After the punt, the Ravens take over at their 5.
7:37 On 3rd and goal from the 1, Lamar Jackson runs the Wildcat for no gain. Next play, Tucker makes another field goal. The 49ers gave up a 34-yard catch and a 23-yard run during that drive. They're gassed.
49ers 12, Ravens 33.
FOURTH QUARTER
7:48 On 4th and 11 from the Ravens 45, Purdy flips the ball to McCaffrey for a 2-yard loss. What an embarassing performance.
7:54 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 34, Chase Young and Randy Gregory sack Jackson for a loss of 6. Then the Ravens punt, and the 49ers take over at their 10.
8:10 On 3rd and 5 from the 12, Sam Darnold throws a touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell. Purdy left the game during the drive after hitting his head on the turf. He's in the medical tent getting evaluated for a concussion.
49ers 19, Ravens 33.
8:14 The Ravens go 3 and out. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 36 with 4:35 left and three timeouts. Darnold is still in the game.
Darnold throw a pick in the end zone and the 49ers lose.
