Somehow, some way, the Baltimore Ravens continue to win.
For the second consecutive week, the Ravens? offense awoke from a nearly deadly slumber in a game?s waning moments to win. This time, the victim was the San Diego Chargers in a 16-13 victory before 70,743 fans at M&T Bank Stadium.
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The Ravens (4-0) won in perhaps an even more improbable fashion than last weekend?s victory over the Cleveland Browns, which ended with a last-minute field goal. This time, the hero was tight end Todd Heap, who scored on a 10-yard touchdown reception with 34 seconds left to beat the Chargers (2-1).
After Heap caught quarterback Steve McNair?s pass, the Pro Bowler shook off a defender and dove into end zone, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
“The character that we had to show, to do what we did out there in a 15-round boxing match [was special],” Ravens head coach Brian Billick said. “That was kind of the way we framed it all week long. It wasn?t pretty.”
For three quarters, the Ravens resembled the team of recent years, consistently finding ways to stall potential drives with penalties and turnovers while the defense held its own.
McNair (17 of 30, 158 yards) was once again largely unimpressive for three quarters, throwing two interceptions, and running back Jamal Lewis was ineffective, rushing for 34 yards. Yet, somehow, the Ravens were in position late in the game to claim the win.
Holding a 13-7 lead, San Diego suffered a meltdown in the final quarter, first with a botched snap on a field goal attempt with 7:32 remaining. With 3:17 left in the game, the Chargers chose to take a safety rather than have Mike Scifres punt the ball, making the score 13-9.
McNair, who had thrown a touchdown to tight end Daniel Wilcox early in the contest, had a 12-yard run to keep the last drive moving. In total, the Ravens moved 55 yards in six plays.
“I wasn?t too surprised at the way we scored off the last drive,” said receiver Derrick Mason (4 catches, 37 yards). “We have a quarterback who knows what he has to do.”
The Ravens had other chances to win. With the Ravens trailing, 13-7, but driving down the field, Wilcox fumbled on the 1-yard-line after receiving a shovel pass from McNair with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
The Ravens had some bizarre moments throughout the game, including a strange, punt-like interception thrown by McNair and a fumble byWilcox on the 1-yard-line in the first half.
Early on, San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers spotted receiver Malcom Floyd for a 31-yard bomb along the right sideline to put his team up 7-0 with 10:21 left in the first quarter.
Linebacker Bart Scott took some of Rivers? confidence away with an interception and returned the ball 24 yards to the San Diego 22, leading to Wilcox?s touchdown and a 7-7 tie.
“You never give up on your team,” Wilcox said.
Notes
Ravens guard Edwin Mulitalo left with 5:43 left in the game with an elbow injury and did not return.
