San Francisco 49ers defenders Fred Warner (#54) and Nick Bosa (#97) pursue Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (#8) at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday DEC 25, 2023. (Kym Fortino-San Francisco 49ers)
by Marko Ukalovic
The battle of the Clash of the Titans was a one-sided affair.
The Baltimore Ravens defense recorded five interceptions and four sacks and Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns in a 33-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a game that featured the two teams with the best records in the NFL on Sunday evening at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco had its six-game winning streak snapped but still control its own destiny in clinching the number seed in the NFC as long as they win their final two games of the regular season. Baltimore has won five games in a row and are on track to clinch the number seed in the AFC.
Baltimore’s defense made life hell for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who suffered his worst game of his professional career. Purdy, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a stinger, was intercepted four times with no touchdowns on 18 of 32 for 255 yards.
Purdy threw the first of his four interceptions on San Francisco’s opening drive when his read to Deebo Samuel was thrown too late as Kyle Hamilton picked off Purdy for the first of his two interceptions of the game.
San Francisco’s (11-4) defense jumped out to a good start as they forced Jackson into an intentional grounding penalty in his own end zone that resulted in a safety. After a 45-yard Jake Moody field goal, the 49ers had a 5-0 lead with 5:58 left in the first quarter.
Baltimore (12-3) received a Justin Tucker 28-yard field goal on its next possession which began a string of seven straight possession where they scored points.
Hamilton made his second interception on a pass intended for tight end George Kittle that deflected off a Ravens defender. Jackson made the 49ers pay as he commanded a 11 play 53-yard drive that was finished off with a Gus Edwards one-yard rushing touchdown to give Baltimore its first lead of the game.
The 49ers scored on its final possession of the first half when running back Christian McCaffery was the catalyst of the drive as he touched the ball on all six plays. His 39-yard run set up his nine-yard rushing touchdown on the very next play.
The Ravens closed out the first half with another 28-yard field goal from Tucker as time expired on the second quarter.
Baltimore dominated the second half on both sides of the ball. After forcing San Francisco on a three and out to start the third quarter, Jackson needed only three plays to get the Ravens back in the end zone. Edwards short pass for 39 yards set up Nelson Agholor’s six-yard touchdown reception along the left sidelines.
Purdy threw his fourth interception when he was hit before throwing the ball that was intended for McCaffery but found the hands of Patrick Queen as he returned it 21 yards to the 49ers nine-yard line.
“I think the NFL scriptwriters did a great job tonight. I’ve never seen Brock Purdy throw four interceptions before,” Kittle said after the game.
Jackson threw for his second touchdown on the next play when he connected with Zay Flowers over the middle for a nine-yard touchdown reception to give the Ravens a 30-12 lead with 11:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Purdy suffered his injury when the 49ers turned the ball over on down with 14:57 left in the fourth quarter. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan had seen enough and replaced Purdy the rest of the game with backup quarterback Sam Darnold.
“I have to look at myself in the mirror and ask why or how that happened,” Purdy said.
Darnold led the Niners down the field on its next possession with a 12 play 90-yard drive that cumulated with a 12-yard touchdown reception to Ronnie Bell on a post route. It was the rookie wide receiver’s first career touchdown.
San Francisco had one last ditch effort to cut the deficit to a one-score game on its final possession, but Darnold was picked off by Marcus Williams in the end zone on a 4th and goal from the Ravens 17-yard line with 1:09 remaining to seal the deal for Baltimore.
The 49ers lost more than the game as all-pro left tackle Trent Williams left the game in third quarter with a groin injury and did not return as Shanahan was forced to go with a makeshift offensive line during the second half which allowed the Ravens to continue to keep pressure on both Purdy and Darnold.
Jackson finished the game going 23 of 35 for 252 yards to go along with his two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also led Baltimore in rushing with 45 yards on seven carries including a 30-yarder on a 3rd and 16 that led to Tucker’s field goal before halftime. Flowers led the Ravens in receiving with nine catches for 72 yards and his one touchdown.
“We gotta get back to work, right back to work,” said Warner on his team’s worst loss of the season. “We can’t let this affect our confidence as a team. We know who we are. We gotta comeback on a short week and go on the road, in a big game. And find a way to win one game.”
Darnold was 8 of 14 for 81 yards with one touchdown and one interception in mop up duty. McCaffery led all rushers with 103 yards on 14 carries. Kittle led the 49ers in receiving with seven catches for 126 yards. Brandon Aiyuk chipped in six catches for 113 yards.
GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 6-for-14 on third down conversions. Baltimore was 4-for-11.
San Francisco allowed a team to score on seven straight possessions for the first time since 2005.
This was the first time the 49ers threw five interceptions in a game since 1980 when Steve DeBerg threw all five.
Jackson is now 20-1 against NFC teams in his career.
McCaffery’s rushing touchdown gave him 21 total touchdowns for the season, tying him with Miami Dolphins Raheem Mostert for the league lead.
UP NEXT: San Francisco travels out the nation’s capital for its final road game of the regular season to take on the Washington Commanders on Sunday 12/31 at 10:00am at FedEx Field.
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