BALTIMORE (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers‘ prize for dismantling the toughest defense in the NFL is a road game against a team that
has long been a nemesis for Philip Rivers.Los Angeles advanced to the divisional
round of the postseason by beating the Baltimore Ravens 23-17 on Sunday. Next
up
Youth Brent Urban Jersey , a matchup against the New England Patriots (11-5) this Sunday.Since Rivers became a starter, the Chargers are 0-7 against Tom Brady and
the Patriots, including 0-2 in playoff games. The last time they met, New
England rolled to a 21-12 win in the AFC Championship game in January
2008.Fortunately for Rivers, past performances don’t necessarily mean that much.
Just two weeks after being dominated by Baltimore in a loss that knocked them
out of first place in the AFC West, the Chargers (13-4) bounced back with a
resounding win to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time
since 2014.Rivers went 22 of 32 for 160 yards, his longest completion a
28-yarder to Mike Williams.Going up against longtime Patriots quarterback Tom
Brady and standout coach Bill Belichick is no easy task, but Rivers is up for
the challenge.“I’m not playing Tom by any means. But is it special to go to New
England against a Hall of Fame coach and arguably the best quarterback ever to
play and get another shot at ’em? Heck, yeah,” Rivers said. “To get an
opportunity again to go against them, 11 years after we had the opportunity in
the 2007 season, yeah, it’s awesome. Looking forward to it.”The Chargers face a
veteran quarterback after putting the clamps on a rookie, Lamar Jackson of the
Ravens, who fumbled three times, threw an interception and was sacked seven
times in his playoff debut.AFC North champion Baltimore (10-7) got to play a
home playoff game for the first time since 2012, but its run ended there.Looking
ahead, this much is clear: John Harbaugh figures he’ll be back as coach — even
if nothing is set in stone yet — and he knows Jackson will be the team’s
starting quarterback next season instead of past Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.While
Flacco is “the best quarterback in the history of the Ravens,” as Harbaugh put
it, Jackson’s 6-1 close to the regular season cemented the first-round draft
pick and Heisman Trophy winner as the No. 1 quarterback.“Lamar’s our quarterback
going forward. There’s no question about that,” Harbaugh said.And as for
Harbaugh’s future?“We’ll see,” he said. “I have every expectation and every plan
to be here, as long as the Ravens want me here. And I believe they want me here.
That’s been made clear by them to me.”Some other things we learned from the
Ravens-Chargers matchup:STICK TO THE PLANIt would be easy for Chargers defensive
end Melvin Ingram to hog the spotlight after recording a team-leading seven
tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on Sunday.But Ingram
said his success was simply a byproduct of playing in a system that emphasizes
staying in position and not over-pursuing a mobile quarterback and his
hard-running backfield.Two weeks ago, the Ravens’ complicated offensive strategy
wore down and puzzled the Chargers. Not this time.“We played assignment
football,” Ingram said. “We were told to see what we were supposed to see. They
do a lot to confuse us, but we stayed with it and it was a much better result
for us.”SUGGS WANTS MORESixteen seasons of being an NFL linebacker evidently
isn’t enough for Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs .Asked after the game if he intended
to return, the 36-year-old Suggs said
Stitched Nick Boyle Jersey , “Absolutely.”With Baltimore?“I would love to be here. I would love to be a Raven life-timer,” Suggs said. “If it’s not, I’ll be playing
lights out for somebody.”BOO BIRDSThe boos started in the second half, as the
Ravens’ offense kept getting shut down and Jackson kept getting sacked. Then
came the chants from the home fans for Flacco to replace Jackson.Baltimore
cornerback Jimmy Smith was not surprised — but he was angered. So he told those
spectators exactly what he thought.“I’m standing there, and they were just like
chanting Flacco’s name. I love ‘Flac,’ but (Jackson) got us here,” Smith said.
“So for the fact that you’re a fair-weather fan that quickly when things go
rough — you turn your back on him? That just got under my skin a little bit.“So
I just went to them and told them, like, ‘Yo, you either ride or die or you get
… out of here.'”JOE TO GO?Although Flacco likely won’t throw another pass with
the Ravens, Harbaugh clearly believes Flacco will be a starting quarterback for
years to come.“Joe Flacco is going to play really well in this league. Joe can
still play,” Harbaugh said. “Joe’s going to have a market. A lot of teams are
going to want Joe because they understand that.”Asked if he can still be a
starter in the NFL, Flacco replied, “Oh, there is no doubt about it.” Baltimore
Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith has been suspended for four games without pay for
violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.The suspension, announced Tuesday,
stems from Smith's behavior toward his ex-girlfriend.The Ravens released a
statement that in part read: "The Ravens fully support the NFL's decision. The
NFL found evidence of threatening and emotionally abusive behaviors by Jimmy
toward his former girlfriend that showed a pattern of improper conduct. Our
player's behavior was inappropriate and wrong."The suspension will take effect
after the final mandated roster cuts on Sept. 1 and extend through Baltimore's
game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 30.Smith, in a statement issued by the Ravens, said:
"I promise that I have already learned much and will continue to learn more from
this experience. ... I take full responsibility for my past conduct."Smith will
be allowed to participate in all of the Ravens' preseason activities, including
games. The 30-year-old is one of Baltimore's best defensive backs.The team said
it reviewed the case to decide whether to keep Smith on the roster."We convened
a group of Ravens women and men executives, not directly involved with our
football operations, to review the matter. We also engaged in conversations with
Jimmy about his past behavior and his intention to change," the statement
said."Additionally, it is our understanding that following a long-running and
difficult custody dispute with his former girlfriend and mother of his son,
Jimmy has resolved his custody and support issues."As a result, the Ravens will
allow Smith to return after his suspension."Jimmy has acknowledged his behaviors
were wrong and accepts full responsibility for them. He has completed a clinical
evaluation and has agreed to undertake any follow-up care or treatment that may
be recommended. ... Jimmy has assured us that he is fully dedicated to making
this change. He also understands the consequences if he does not."Smith has
played seven seasons for Baltimore since being drafted in the first round of the
2011 draft. He started in 12 games last season before an Achilles tendon injury
forced him to miss the team's final four games. During those four weeks, he
chose to accept an NFL suspension for using performance enhancers.
