Yahoo Sports Staff
NFL Christmas Day: Ravens cap holiday slate with demolition of Niners; Raiders, Eagles also win
The NFL's three-game Christmas slate ended with a statement from the Baltimore Ravens.
Facing the NFL's consensus top team in the San Francisco Giants, the Ravens ripped that title out of their opponent's hands with a 33-19 steamrolling. Lamar Jackson again led the way on offense, but the star of the night was a Ravens defense that hauled in five interceptions, four of them from MVP candidate Brock Purdy.
The Ravens now hold the NFL's best record at 12-3, while the Niners fall to 11-4. Baltimore can clinch a bye week in the playoffs next week against the Miami Dolphins, while the Niners now have some work to do to win the same.
Here is all the action as it went down from Yahoo Sports.
Early results: Raiders defense leads upset of Chiefs | Eagles hang on vs. Giants
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER182 updates
It's funny how little that game actually mattered to the Ravens standings-wise (they clearly wanted this). They didn't even clinch an AFC North title, and a loss next week likely means losing that bye. Still, they just emphatically established themselves as the big dog in the NFL.
FINAL SCORE: Ravens 33, Niners 19.
The Ravens walked into the Bay Area and tortured the Niners in what was supposed to be a clash of the NFL's best. The Ravens will improve their record to 12-3 with a game against the Dolphins next week that will decide the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Niners fall to 11-4 and have some work to do to hang onto that playoff bye.
Five interceptions by the Baltimore defense 😤
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/BmMOV2AzTa— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
ONE LAST INTERCEPTION.
Marcus Williams picks off Sam Darnold for the Ravens' fifth of the night and this is basically over.
Darnold gets sacked on third down. Then a false start. 4th and goal from the 17-yard line with 1:13 remaining after a 10-second run-off.
McCaffrey gets stopped at the 1-yard line and here comes the two-minute warning.
Brandin Aiyuk draws DPI to push the ball to the 2-yard line. Scoring before the two-minute warning would be huge here for the Niners.
The Niners are down to their last reserve lineman.
Ben Bartch at LG for #49ers now.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 26, 2023
#49ers LG Aaron Banks now getting some medical attention.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 26, 2023
S Kyle Hamilton (knee) is doubtful to return.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2023
Darnold hits Brandon Aiyuk for a 24-yard gain to reach the red zone. Levi's Stadium finding a bit of life, but we're down to two and a half minutes left. Niners still have all three timeouts.
#49ers QB Brock Purdy (stinger) questionable to return.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 26, 2023
Call stands. First down Niners.
Replay makes it looks like the Ravens will not be successful here. Of course, they weren't risking a ton here, but but the longshot reward would have basically ended the game.
Wow, Niners juuuuuust get the first down after going for it on fourth. Deebo Samuel fought through two Ravens to land the ball on the line. Ravens now challenging the spot.
ESPN broadcast reports Brock Purdy has been cleared to play. Niners are sticking with Sam Darnold, who has one more TD than Brock Purdy tonight.
The Ravens open the drive with a sack.
Still Sam Darnold at QB for #49ers. Brock Purdy is on the sideline with his helmet on.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 26, 2023
OK then. Niners bat down a Lamar Jackson pass at the line of scrimmage on third down and the Niners will get the ball back down 14 with 4:35 remaining. That field goal the Ravens kicked after reaching the Niners' 1-yard line suddenly looming very large.
Brock Purdy just emerged from medical tent carrying his helmet. Just gave a fist bump to Sam Darnold. #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 26, 2023
That was a 12-play, 90-yard drive for San Francisco.
Bells will be ringing 🔔 @Ronnieb_8#BALvsSF on ESPN pic.twitter.com/oGeMuVKEKU
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 26, 2023
TOUCHDOWN
Darnold hits rookie Ronnie Bell for a 12-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 33-19 with 6:19 left. It is not entirely over.
Sam Darnold had thrown six passes this season before today. And now he gets the Ravens defense as it's going to town on his teammates.
Purdy now walking off the field and into the blue medical tent after being slow to get up. In comes Sam Darnold.
Despite the score, the Niners seem to get a big play every other drive. They just got one from Brandon Aiyuk, who shook three Ravens defenders for 33 yards.
And then Purdy gets sacked. We're down to about eight minutes left.
Kyle Hamilton was able to hobble off the field under his own power. He's headed to the medical tent.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) December 26, 2023
This would be a very bad way to sour a huge win for the Ravens. He seems to be in a lot of pain,
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton is down and clutching his knee.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) December 26, 2023
Niners fans at least got to watch this at halftime.
Illegal contact? pic.twitter.com/LPFcbHyyWT
— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
49ers down left tackle No. 1 Trent Williams (groin) and left tackle No. 2 Jaylon Moore (concussion evalustion), so they've shifted RT Colton McKivitz to left tackle, put RG Spencer Burford to RT.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 26, 2023
Patrick Mekari is being evaluated for a head injury.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2023
#49ers INJURY UPDATE - OL Jaylon Moore (head) being evaluated
— Jennifer Lee Chan - threads @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) December 26, 2023
The Ravens are punting for the first time since their first drive (not counting the safety).
#49ers OT Jaylon Moore, who was replacing Trent Williams (groin), just walked to locker room.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 26, 2023
Kevin Zeitler (thigh) is questionable to return.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2023
Ravens LT Patrick Mekari's going into the blue tent after that run. Ronnie Stanley's back in.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) December 26, 2023
They didn't get it. Brock Purdy might go from MVP candidate to off the board in one game.
Wow, just when it looked all Ravens, Niners stop Jackson on 3rd-and-goal with 1 yard to go. The Ravens settle for a chip shot field goal to go up 33-12.
Stunning to see the 49ers just bullied this way. Being pushed around all night. Wow. And the QB is looking like he’s closing in on MVP No. 2.
— Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) December 26, 2023
The Ravens are making a statement here.
Isaiah Likely dishes out an ANGRY stiff arm 💪
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/lKyHvdN8AF— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023
49ers defense is in base defense, so just 2 cornerbacks (Ward, Lenoir) but the No. 3 no longer appears to be Jason Verrett. He's on 49ers sideline without a helmet on, while Ambry Thomas and Darrell Luter are next men up
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 26, 2023
Niners drop a pass at third down, then get called for an illegal shift. Bad bad bad.
#49ers injury update: LT Trent Williams (groin) is questionable to return.
— Lindsey Pallares (@lindseylares) December 26, 2023
This is the largest deficit of the Niners' season. The second half has been a disasterclass so far, after a not-great first half.
Ravens have now scored on their last 6 drives against the NFL's 2nd-stingiest defense:
FG
TD
FG
FG
TD
TD— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 26, 2023
Give Zay his Flowers for this TD and Grinch celebration 😈
📺: #BALvsSF on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pkwa8SXokx pic.twitter.com/8nyMz2Neh5— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2023