10 Insights: Running Ravens led by Rookies Lamar Jackson, Gus Edwards

Dec 20, 2018 at 08:27 AM

Chris Hayre

TEAM REPORTER

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, hands off to running back Gus Edwards in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Below are 10 quick-hitting insights entering the Chargers' Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens:

1) The Chargers' hopes for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC are still alive if they win this Saturday vs. Baltimore and in Week 17 at Denver. Los Angeles would then need Kansas City to drop one of its final two games: at Seattle this Sunday night or in Week 17 vs. Oakland.

2) Of Los Angeles' league-high seven Pro Bowl selections, two are first-timers: safeties Derwin James and Adrian Phillips. James is the first Chargers rookie to make the Pro Bowl (non-alternate) since linebacker Shawne Merriman in 2005.

3) Baltimore is allowing 18.1 points per game this season, fewest in the NFL. Los Angeles will enter Saturday with fourth-highest scoring team in the league (28.2 points per game).

4) More on the Ravens' top-ranked defense: They've surrendered just 65.6 yards per game on the ground in their last five contests. The Chargers are expected to have running back Melvin Gordon back in the lineup Saturday after a three-game absence.

5) Conversely, the Ravens are averaging 230.4 rushing yards per game over their last five. The constants have been quarterback Lamar Jackson – who's 4-1 as the starter – and undrafted rookie running back Gus Edwards. Edwards is rushing for an average of 97.2 yards per game over the last five weeks.

6) Jackson is averaging 17.2 carries per game in five starts this season. Gordon is averaging 15.3 carries per game in 10 starts.

7) Chargers kicker Michael Badgley through his first eight career games: 14-of-15 on field goal attempts (93.3 percent), with a long of 59 yards. Ravens All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker in his first eight career games in 2012: 15-of-16 on field goal attempts (93.7 percent), with a long of 56 yards.

8) A win Saturday would give Los Angeles a 4-0 record against the AFC North this season. The last time the Chargers swept an entire division was in 2010 (4-0 against the AFC South).

9) Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams and Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey faced each other in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship. Clemson beat Alabama 35-31, and Williams caught eight passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Williams (No. 7 overall) and Humphrey (No. 16 overall) were both selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

10) Dating back to last season, Los Angeles has won nine of its last 11 games from ROKiT Field at StubHub Center.