Ravens Top 49ers in Matchup of Conference Leaders

The 11-3 San Francisco 49ers hosted the 11-3 Baltimore Ravens in a Christmas matchup of NFL conference leaders on Monday Night Football. A subplot to this one was the debate over the MVP qualifications between quarterbacks Lamar Jackson of Baltimore and Brock Purdy of San Francisco. While this game doesn’t mean the MVP debate is over, it probably eliminated Purdy while elevating Jackson’s chances.

Jackson completed 23 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, while Purdy had 255 yards of completions, but with no touchdowns and a career worst four interceptions as the Ravens beat the 49ers 33-19. Sam Darnold replaced Purdy later in the game, and while he did complete a touchdown pass, he, too, threw an interception. San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, who is also in the discussion for MVP, didn’t hurt his chances, rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown in just 14 carries. McCaffrey leads the NFL with 1395 rushing yards. He also caught six passes for 28 more yards. McCaffrey has scored 126 points, tied for third in the league. Justin Tucker kicked four field goals for Baltimore.

Here’s a link to the 49ers-Ravens Highlight Reel

San Francisco (11-4) has already clinched the NFC West, so they are playing for the top seed in the conference. The 49ers beat Philadelphia (also 11-4) earlier this year so they hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles. San Francisco is at Washington (4-11) and then closes out the regular season at home against the L.A. Rams (8-7). Baltimore (12-3) has clinched a playoff berth and will clinch the AFC North with a win or a Cleveland Browns loss the rest of the way. Baltimore leads Miami (11-4) in the race for the top seed in the AFC; the Ravens will host the Dolphins on New Year’s Eve and will close out the regular season at home against Pittsburgh.